S H O C H I K U
" U M E G O YO M I "
Writt e n by Shunsui Tamenaga Dramatized by Kinka, Mimura
To be presented by Young Kabu k i Actors at the Shimbashi Embujo Theatre from August 5th, 1948.
" U M E G O Y O M I "
O utline:
T a n jir o , the young master o f Karagotoya, f e l l in lo v e w ith Yonehachi, a g e is h a - g ir l, wh i l e he had a b e a u tifu l
fiancee named Ocho and set up housekeeping w ith Yone- hach i.
In the meantime T a n jiro c ame to lo s e his heart to another g e is h a -g i r l named Adakichi.
Thus Yonehachi and Adakichi g o t confronted w ith each other in everyth in g and i t gave r is e to trou b les between them. On the other hand, T a n jiro took pa in s in search fo r
t he valuable te a -p o t o f h is ma s t e r ' s fa m ily w hi ch had been s to le n , and t r aced to the fa c t that the te a -p o t was in the hand o f a samurai named Sabunta, who had s to le n i t . Then, he asked Adakichi to g e t back t he te a -p o t from Sabunta
under preten ce o f lo v e , and promised her that he would s ever
connections wi t h Yonehac h i , her r i v a l s , i f she succeeded in g e t tin g i t . One n ig h t, Yonehachi, in search fo r T a n jir o rushed by
mistake in to the room where Adakich i and Sabunta were s i t t in g fa ce to f ace, and was put to shame by Adakichi. There upon Han j i r o , who had been in search f o r the te a -p o t aided by T a n jir o , made h is appearance in the scene and took i t back by k i l l i n g the wicked sam urai.
Yonehach i was impresse d by the fa ith fu ln e s s o f Ada- k i ch i to T a n jiro and g ot r e c o n c ile d w ith h er.
--- The Fi r s t Act — —
-Scene 1: On the bank at Mukojima.
There l i e s a grass-grown bank about si x f e e t in h e i g h t f r o m t h e r i g h t t o t h e l e f t . O n t h e l e f t t h e r e i s a f l i g h t o f s ton e-steps in fr o n t o f whi c h stands a la rg e stone t o r i i (a sh rin e-en tran c e)
On the r ig h t th e re i s seen the back sigh t o f a wayside t e a - s t a l l w ith a bamboo-blind in the f r o n t .
Evening about the end o f May. The cu rta in r is e s .
On the bank, ge is h a ’ s samisen ca r r ie r s Toyokichi and Ki suke a re tak in g a r e s t and smoking.
T oyokich i: H a llo , K isuke-don. I hear a te a p a rty i s to be held to -n ig h t at Mr. K a jiw a ra 's geisha- hous e . I t seems th ere are many gu ests, doesn’ t i t ?
i
Kisuke: W e l l . But the g e is h a - g ir ls are no t le e s than the g u ests. To say nothing o f the pic k e d g e i s h a - g ir ls from Nakamachi, dancing master s ,
s t o r y - t e ll e r s , and r e ci t o r s o f Gidayu and S h in n a i are a lso in v ite d to the p arty,
la r g e - s c a le p a rty , I suppose. 1
2
Toyokic h i: Then, I expect to have a s u f f ic ie n t drink to -n ig h t a t the a tten d a n ts' room.
Kisuke: W e ll, t h a t 's your r o le . We had be t t e r f l a t t e r the purveyors as much as p o s s ib le .
Toyokichi : Oh s u r e ! H a , h a , h a !
(The two e x i t to the r ig h t in la u gh ter. The v o ic e o f Osen, a g i r l o f the t e a - s t a l l , i s heard from w ith in the bamboo- b l i n d . )
Osen: As i t has become shady, I w i l l raise the b lin d .
(Osen winds th e b lin d . In the t e a - s t a l l Tanj i r o , former adopted-son o f Karagotoya, and h is fia n cee Ocho are s i t t i n g op p osite to each other using f a n s . )
Tanj ir o : I t has become p r e tt y c o o l. I t i s across only a narrow s t r ip o f water by b oat.
Say, Ocho, you have com e through m any hard- ships, h a ve n 't you?
Ocho: O my! I did not in vain make a prayer to G o d f o r a ll f e a r a n d s o r r o w . I h a v e
Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan:
never been so g la d to come across you a ft e r a long time.
That i s because o f a good lo o k fo r us . By the way, you said you a re le a rn in g Joru ri
re c it i n g , but who on earth is your teacher? W e ll. I have my tone adjusted by Mr. Iesh ib a
at G inza six tim es a m onth, but u suall I
come to the master Koume everyday as you see. Then, Oyoshi-san who is loo k in g a f t e r you, seems
to be a very kind person.
Talking o f a kind person, Yonehach i-s a n , who were so kind w h ile you were stayin g with me , l e f t away from the house not long a f t e r you got out o f i t .
I o n c e h e a rd o f a ru m o u r lik e th a t.
T o say nothing o f you and Yonehachi-san, even I l e f t Karag o to y a , and we have become separated w ith one another. There i s nothing s o d i sheartening as t h i s.
Not a t al l . W h i l e we were s ta y in g at Kara-g
otoya, you were my f i ancee in name on ly. That ward Onib e and the c le r k Matsube were in every th in g so hard upon me in l e a
gue w ith each other th at I could r a r e ly f in d a chance o f ta lk in g w ith you.
4 -Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho: Tan: Ocho Tan:
Thinking o f i t , I am happy now because we can meet f r e e l y and e a s ily .
O my ! How glad I am! Then, I may v i s i t your house everyday?
(With a puzzled a ir ) My house i s a house in name o n ly , almost scandalous. That i s mere a temporary resid en ce.
Then, your house i s a t Yamanoyado or Kana kawado?
What i s your temporary re s id en ce. Now I am l i v i n g at Nakanogo in Hon jo.
Then, i t is near from h ere, i s n ’ t i t ?
W e ll, very near. But when compared w ith the house o f Karagotoya, i t i s sm aller than the b a th -room, You need not come, anyhow. I w i l l see you home to-day.
(W ith a bi t t e r lo o k ) I wonder why I must not go.
Le t me se e ----.
Hav e you got a w ife ? Don't t a lk n o n s e n se!
I want to go and serve you, then.
D on't mind such a thing . You can’ t do what you are not used to do. As f o r my personal a f f a i r s , an old woman l i v i n g i n the same ten e ment-house look s a ft e r me. There i s no an x ie t y about i t .
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Ocho: Ca n 't you take me w ith you? I w ish to take care o f you fo r tr a in in g .
Tan: I d o n 't want a l l the worry o f neighbourhood because I
am
s t i l l a s in g le man. S e ttin g such a th in g a sid e, you had b e t t er go home l e s t y o u r f amily should be anxious. Now Iam sending y ou home.
Say, servant! Here i s a t ip f o r you. Osen: Thank you v e ry much.
(T a n jir o le a v e s the s t a l l urging Ocho to go home. Thereupon the boat seems to have rea ched . )
Boatman: Now you have a rriv e d .
(Thereupon g e is h a - g ir ls Yonehachi and Umeji make t h e ir appearance accompanied r
by Yoshitake , a buffoon and Yosuke , a samisen c a r r i e r . )
Yonehac hi : Oh, you are Tan-san , a r e n 't you? Tan: Oh, Yoneha ch i!
Y o n e : O my! I t i s a lon g t i me since I saw you l a s t , Ocho-san! You have qu ite grown up and become v e r y b e a u tifu l. You may marry somebody now.
Tan: Sa y , Yonehac hi , I s h a ll t e l l you d e t a ils la t e r . I t was almost a su rp rise to me th a t I met
her th ere by chance I hear she l e f t the gay qu arters a f t e r having su ffered hardships.
Ocho: Exouse me, Yonehach i - san. I could not say anything becau se I becam e sad havin g met you a f t e r a long t i me. Don't think i l l o f me ple a s e.
Yonehachi : By no means. You s e em to hav e s u ffe re d many ha r d s h i p s . Since I l e f t your house, I have, t r u l l y speaking, become a g e is h a - g ir l o f e s ta b lis h e d rep u ta tion in Fukagawa through the g ood favou rs o f Ume ji- s a n and oth er persons.
( a f t e r h e s it a t in g a b i t . ) I came to exchange vows o f lo v e wit h Young Master by chance and now we are ju s t l i k e man and w ife though we don’ t l i v e to g e th e r , (makes a sm ile pu rposely) Excuse me, but you seem to be in di s t r e ss c i r - cumstance s . You need not h e s it a t e in asking me f o r anything, I am ready to lo o k a f t e r you as much as p o s s ib le .
Ocho: Say, Yonehach i-s a n . Many thanks f o r your kindness, but i t pains me f o r the t wo o f us to be lo o ked a f t e r by you, g e is h a - g ir ls , who were form erly in s e r v ic e a t my house. So you need not be envious about i t . From now on I am goin g t o ta k e c a re o f m y brother to h elp him.
( Sankichi appears.) 6
-Yoneha chi : Is that so? Young master w i l l be happy, then. (t o Ta n ji r o ) By the way, Tan-san, I am on the way to a s e r v ic e room and cannot t e l l you d e t a ils , but I have found a neat
house fo r you. So you had b e t t e r remove to i t . Your present resid en ce i s so fa r f o r my goin g and coming, and m oreover, i t is unsafe f o r you as you see now.
T a n
: But I am a fr a id i t is so abrupt.
Y on e: You must do i t as soon as p o s s ib le . F ix tu res and fu rn itu re s s h a ll be bought w ith in t o - n ig h t.
U meji: Say, Yonehachi-san, you r way o f speaking
does not seem moderate. You need not be jea lou s o f him l i k e a woman strange to a l i f e o f shame . I am a fr a id that would sound harsh.
Yone: No. Le t me do what I li k e . (to T a n jiro ) C a n 't you take my advi c e ? You are going to run away somewhere w ith Ocho-san, a r e n 't you?
Tan: Don't be suspicious o f me lik e th a t. Now I want to go t o the house o f a woman named Oyosh i who has been lo o k in g a f t e r Ocho
since she l e f t away from home, and say 7
-thanks. Just I am going to see her by the way o f seein g Ocho home.
Yone: That i s very kind o f you.
Um eji: W e ll, i t i s fo rtu n a te . You had b e tte r go by the boat by which we reached ju st now.
T a n
: Many thanks . Then I w i l l s t a r t b e fo re g e t tin g la t e .
Yosh itak a: H a llo , Boatman, as fa r as H ori p lease.
Tan: Good-by e , Yonehach i. Ocho: Good l uck t o you.
(Ocho goes down the bank making vows to Yonehach i and o t h e r s .)
Yone: Say, Tan-san ! ( approaches h im .) Come back as soon as p o s s ib le . How
h orried you a re ! (P in ches him s e c r e t ly ) Tan: Ouch! What a th in g you should do!
Ume j i : Enough! She i s mere a g i r l , you see. Tan: Hum. You lo o k c ra z y .
Yone: I am crazy a f t e r a l l . T h erefo re you don 't know what I may do!
(She throws her fan away and fo llo w s T a n jiro )
Tan: Enough! Drop i t . Say, Ume ji- s a n , I le a v e her to you.
(Ume j i goes down the bank) 8
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Yone: How v e x a tio u s !
Ume j i : That does not become you, Yonehach i. I t is s i l l y o f you to do such a thing. Yone: W e l l ----. But I mus t keep sharp watch
fo r Ocho Is cl e v e r . (Looking toward the b oat) H a llo , Ocho-san, you had b e tte r hold him t i ghtly by the hand l e s t he should be l o s t .
Ume: Nonsense!
Yoshi taka: Now S is t e r . Let us s t a r t b e fo re g e t t ing dark.
(Y osh ita k a and Ume j i e x i t takin g Yone- hach i by fo r ce . )
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Scene 2: In the Sumida R iv e r .
(In the middle o f the r i v e r , th ere f l o a t s a r o o f boat w ith a b lin d . Soon the boat of T a n jiro and Oyone approaches the o th e r.
Thereupon M a s a ji, a gei s h a - g i r l appears f r om w ith in the b lin d .)
Masaji : Oh, Tan-san! Where are you going?
Tan: Oh, M asaj i - s a n ! Ar e you goin g to the upper way? (tu rns back and smi l e s . )
Masa: ( Fin d in g Ocho) Oh, Ocho-san! You are having a good time o f i t .
(Thereupon Adakichi, another geish a - g i r l , sees o f f the boat o f Tanji r o , standing at the bow.)
Adakichi: H a llo , Masa j i , who i s th at gentleman? Masa: He i s th is o f Yonehachi, you see.
(Shows a thumb.)
Adakichi: Then, he i s ---- ? (T o tte r s a b i t . ) Mas a ji: Be c a r e fu l!
Adakichi: (Absent-m indedly) What a handsome man , he i s !
(Adakichi i s struck by Tan j i r o . Ma s a ji looks a t her f ace w ith amazement. Ta n jir o 's b o a t gradua l l y g e ts out o f s ig h t .)
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The Second Ac t: Scene 1
The stage in d ic a te s the entrance o f Obanaya, a resta u ra n t, a t Fukagawa. On the r ig h t sid e th ere stands an elega n t g a te with a r o o f.
Evening in the end o f June.
The cu rta in r is e s with a popular song.
From w ith in the g a te , Furushima Sabunta, a samurai, wearing t wo swords, makes his appearance accompanied by m aid-servant Ohana.
Ohana: Many thanks fo r your continued favour. Good n i ght , si r .
(Goes back and en ters the house.) Sabunta: I t i s very com fortable to go under the
in flu en ce o f drink in the evening breeze.
Matsube: Sabunta: Matsube:
mo to, and went f i r s t t o Ma ts umoto. I t was a m istake. I should have been a b le to have a drink i f I had come here f i r s t . I have got g r e a tly disappointed.
(Thereupon Matsube, the c le r k o f Kara- g oto ya , appears.)
H a llo , master!
(S tops) Oh, c le r k o f Karagotoya!
Matsu-S a b u n t a : I s t h a t s o ? I f I had no urgent b u si-ness, I mig h t go bac k ag a in to have a drin k. (Takes out a s i l v e r coin )
You may have a drink somewhere.
Matsube: Thank you very much. By the way, master about the te a -p o t in q u e s t io n ----.
Sabunta: (Looking around) Hey! What i s the ma t t e r w ith the t ea - pot?
Ma ts ube: A c e rta in person wishes to g e t the tea pot y o u le ft in m y c a r e a t a h ig h p r ic e . Do you care to s e l l i t ?
Sabunta: W e ll. I am ea ger t o dispose o f i t , but i t is n ot y e t the r ig h t time. That tea pot n a m ed Zan getsu is the preciou s trea sure o f the H atakeyam a fam ily, and they seem to be in search f o r i t under s t r i c t in v e s tig a tio n . You must not take i t out ca r e l essl y l e s t the ma t t e r should be la id ba re , I le a v e i t in your s t r i o t care t i l l
the sensation i s over, you see.
Matsube : By the way, I mus t t e l l that H a n jiro , who was disowned because he lo s t the te a p o t, i s liv in g , a t Nakaura q u ite near f r o m h ere. You must keep a sharp watch , th e re fo re .
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-Sabunji : That i s qu ite unsafe. Who i s h id in g him then?
M atsu He I s under the c are o f my form er master named T a n jiro , and i s s e c r e t ly lo o k in g fo r the te a -p o t.
Sabu ji: W e ll, I must be c a r e fu l a l l th e more. T a n jir o is a g o o d - fo r - n o t h in g a f t e r a l l , I suppose. I f he backs up H a n jiro he is a nuisance to me. You s h a ll dispose o f him by the way.
Ma t su: W ell — .
Sabun: T i l l that tim e, the t e a - p o t ---- .
M a t s u : Y e s , I w i l l k e e p i t w i t h g r e a t e s t c a r e . Sabun: You must be ca r e fu l so as not to arouse o th e rs ' su spicion.
Matsu: Ther e i s no anxiety about i t , s i r . Good n ig h t , Sabunta-sama.
Sabun: See you again.
(The t wo p art from each other a nd e x it . Thereupon Kohama, a w a itre s s , makes her appearance.)
Kohama: What on earth i s the m atter w ith T a n jir o -san, white s i s t e r Ada k ich i has bean w a itin g fo r him? I cannot remain w ith her because s h e is s o im patien t. By the way I heard
ju st now Sabunta-sama keeps the l o s t te a pot. We l l , I wi l l go and t e l l i t to S is t e r
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that sh e m a y b rig h ten u p . (K o h a m a ex its . The sound o f the evening b e l l . T a n jiro makes h is appearance a t the stag e pass a g e .)
T a n jiro : A ft e r I was driven away from Kara-goto y a , Yonehach i a ls o l e f t the gay quar t e r s to l i v e a t F u k agaw a. S in ce then, she has been k in d ly l ook in g a f t e r me. I t i s due to her kindness th at I am lea d in g an easy l i f e though shady. Now
I cannot but f e e l uneasy to have a se c re t m eeting w ith Adakichi by s te a lth . I had b e tte r go home to n ig h t? (About to go back but stops a g a in .)
But th is l e t t e r t o l ds she must see me by a l l means. (th in k in g ) W e ll,
I wi l l g o a n d s e e h e r ju s t a b i t .
(T a n jir o a r r iv e s a t the stage read in g the l e t t e r . Thereupon a sham- poo r appears and runs in to T a n jir o .) Tan: What a s ta r t you gave me!
S h ampooer: Shampoo, shampoo! ( Ex i t s to the l e f t . ) (T he stage revolves.)
S c e n e : ( 2 )
Inner room o f Obanaya fa c in g the garden. Ohana sn u ffs the caudle. Oki n i s s i t t i n g on the verandah, Os e i standing in the garden.
Hana: I wonder why Adak ich i - san is in a way lik e th a t!
Kin : She had been very nervous, standing, s i t t i n g g e ttin g out or coming in , be cause Ta n jir o i s la t e to come.
Se i: Tan -san is a h appy man, anyhow;
Adakichi-san is g ive n up to him w h ile he i s Yonehachi-san' s lo v e r .
Hana: Now I remember, she s a id she made a coat f o r him I hear she i s going to
b rin g i t to n ig h t and h elp him to wear i t. Kin: I f Yoneha ch i-s a n know such a th in g (m a k es
horns with fin g e r s ) the m atter would become s e rio u s , I suppose.
Sei : Yonehach i- s an i s in t h is house, however. Hana: Good heavens i f they meet by c hance !
I am anxious about i t , but i t i s o f no use to be worried about o th e rs ' a f f a i r s . T h e r e f o r e l e t us put the room in order and go over th ere to hear the Kiyomoto r e c it in g .
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-To -n ig h t , there i s to be held a re v ie w o f Kiyomoto ma s t e r s .
I have b een look in g forward to i t from daytime.
I t w i l l soon b egin . L et us go q u ick ly. (The th ree e x i t to the l e f t s id e ,
Kiyomoto r e c it in g s t a r t s . Ada- k ic h i makes her appearance.)
Adakichi: I w o n d er how long Tan-san wi l l keep we w a itin g . I am a f r a id Yonehac h i-san way be d istu rb in g him on purpose. How vexin g!
(Goes to the verandah)
I am sure he wi l l c ome to n ig h t, f o r I
wrote a hot l e t t e r lik e th a t, but I wonder what the m atter w ith h im, I have been
waiting fo r him f o r about an hour.
(Thereupon T a n jiro appears l o oking before and behind.) Tan:
(in a low v o ic e ) Ha l l o , Ada. A
d a
: Oh, Tan-san! How lon g you have kept me w a itin g !
(Adakich i g e ts down to the garden en ters the room w ith T a n jir o .) T
a n
: Oh, i t began to r a in in small drops. A
d a
: Don’ t mind such a th in g . There i s nobody who is a fr a id o f ra in and Yonehach i-san
lik e you. K in:
S e i:
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Tan: D on't t a lk nonsense! I t has become c o o l a b i t .
A d a
: Say Tan-san — Tonight I heard about an unexpected thing.
T a n
: What do you mean? A whale came up to the Shore o f Shibahame?
A d a
: Don't jok e. I am ta lk in g o f H anjiro-san who is sta y in g at your house. I hear he l o s t a valu able te a -p o t and was d is owned from h is fa m ily , you see.
Tan: Formerly I was much o b lig e d to H a n jir o 's fa th e r. One day, la s t A p r il, Ha n jiro re c e iv e d i n tr u s t from Mr . Hatakayama the v a lu a b le t e a - p o t , but on h is way home he was deprived o f i t by somebody on the b rid ge of E it a i. Since then, the matter got com plicated and Hanji ro-san was d is owned by his fa th e r . Though he has an honourable r e l a t i v e named Tobee in Chiba, he could not openly be allow ed to access th e re . So he came to stay at my house.
I am also anxious to fin d out the te a pot that he may be allow ed to retu rn home.
Ada: I know where the te a -p o t i s kept. Tan: What! Do you know where i t i s?
A d a
: I have s ome knowledge about i t ----. C an 't we fin d any way o f g e t t in g ba ck the tea -p ot?
( Sinks in th ou gh ts.)
Tan: L e t m e s e e - - - - . I f I c a n , m y f a c e w i l l b e saved to say nothing o f Hanji r o - sa n ----. Say, Adaki-c h i! C an't you fin d any good id e a fo r i t ? I should be g r a t e fu l fo r you through my l i f e . Ada: Well, th ere i s not no id e a , but ----.
Tan: What i s that?
Ada: I t i s the conventional coquetry which d eceives a man.
Tar: What do you mean, eh?
(Kiyomoto r e c i t i n g s t a r t s . Adakichi seems to have made up her mind a f t e r having ta n ta liz e d him very much.)
Ada: Well, I may p ersevere anything f o r the sake o f you.
(Okin and Osei ca rry out b o t t le s o f sake and e a ta b le s . )
Okin: Sorry to have kept you w a itin g .
Osei : Is th ere anything e ls e I can do fo r you? I s h a l l c a l l you when you are wanted. Tan:
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-Okin: Excuse me, then.
( The wa itr e s s e s are about to le a v e the room. Adakich i c a l l s back Okin and whispers something to h er. Okin makes a nod and e x it s w ith O sei. )
Adakich i: Say, Tan-san! As f o r the m atter i n ques t io n , I w i l l d evice some way. Set your mind a t r e s t , th in k in g i t would be a l l r i gh t nine c ases out o f ten.
Tan: Thank you very much indeed. I sh a ll be g r e a t ly o b lig e d t o you.
Ada: But I must do i t even again st my w i l l . There fo r e you must a lso enter my fe e lin g s , you see. T
a n
: A l l r i g h t , I w i l l . By the way, please serve me with a cup of sake.
Ada: W e ll. (T a k in g a b o t t le ) In stead o f i t , I must l e t you s t a y h e r e fu r t h e r ; I have many th in gs to t a lk w ith you.
Tan: A l l r i g h t . Now th a t th in gs are l i k e th is . I w i l l not go whoever might come.
(Durin g the Kiyomoto r e c i t i n g , the two serve each other w ith sake.)
Ada: (As i f ca l l i n g to mind.) Oh, I remember, what is the matter with Oshige-san, w h ile I asked her lik e that?
20
(Thereupon Oshige appears wit h the coat wrapped in paper)
Oshige: Here i t i s , S is t e r .
Ada: Thank you f o r your tro u b le .
( Adakich i re c e iv e d the coa t. Osh ig e e x i t s . )
Ada: Say , Tan-san, here is your c oat I promised you to make the oth er day. (Opens the p ack age.)
Tan: You have already got i t ? Many th a n k s . Ada: I made h a ste, but i t i s w e ll made. L ook a t
the c re s t. This i s w e ll coloured to o . T
a n
: W e ll, i t i s e x c e lle n t ly made. I must keep i t with g re a te s t care.
Ada: No, you need not be anxious about i t . I may make another one. But you have b e tte r lea ve i t with Masukichi-san le s t Yonehach i should know about i t .
Tan: W e ll, I see. This is my be s t clo t h e s , anyhow. Ada: Just t r y i t to sse whether i t i s fix e d f or y ou. Tan: W e ll, I may j ust wear i t .
( Kiyomoto r e c it in g . Adakich i helps Tan- j i ro to wear the co a t and the two g oes to the verandah t o he ar the K iyomo t o . ) Ada: L is te n to th a t. I t seems as i f they are r e
21 Tan: A d a : Tan: Ada: Tan: Tan: Ada: Tan: Ada: Oh sure!
(The tw o exchange glances and sm ile. Thereupon Yonehachi m a kes her appear- ance on the l e f t side and watches the s cene g e t t in g under cove r . Adakich i g e ts su rprised seeing he r. Yonehachi e x it s to the l e f t . ) Just, Tan-san! What? Yonehachi is i n th is house. Eh! A d a
: There! You are s t i l l a fr a id o f h er, a r e n 't you?
No I am n ot. But I must be going now l e st a trou b le should happen.
W e ll, I a ls o d o n 't lik e to see her f o r she should say a d isa greea b le th in g . So l e t ' s le a v e th is house s e p a ra te ly . Good-bye f or some days.
W ell. Fortu nately the rain stopped.
(T a n jiro g e ts down to the garden. Ada- ki chi looks a t him from b eh in d .)
That c oat becomes you very w e ll. I t i s due to your good s e le c t io n .
(T a n jir o is about to g o , when Yone- hachi makes her appearance through the gate on the l e f t . )
22 -Yone: Tan: Y one: Tan: Yone: Tan: Yone: Tan: H a llo , Tan-san! Oh, Yonehachi ! ( Adak ic h i disappears in c o n fu s io n .) What fo r d id you come he r e , Tan-san? We l l , l e t me s e e - - - . I was in v ite d by a
c e rta in person.
Who asked you to come he re? ( L ooking at the c o a t .) Oh, t h is c o a t ----. Just take i t of f and l e t me see i t .
(Yonehach i makes T a n jiro take o f f the c o a t , throws i t on a stepping stone and tramples i t unde r f o o t .)
Hey, Yonehachi! You have go t mad?
( T a n jiro g e ts indignant and p u lls her down to the verandah.)
Do as you lik e i f i t i s so b ad fo r me to have s o ile d your valu able co a t. But that is nothing when compared with the d isgra ce you brought
upon me!
You think Adakic hi made t h is c oa t, but i t is qu ite a groundless su sp icion . T ru lly speak- in g , t h is coat was g iv e n t o Y o s h ijir o by the master o f Sh i t ay a . To-day he asked me to change mine f o r th is co a t saying that he
could not wear i t out o f resp ect to a person whom he was to v i s i t . So I wore th is c oat on the way here . How could I j usty m yself to Yosh i j i r o now th a t i t has been ruined lik e th is?
Yone: Then, I may see Y osh ij iro -s a n to make an
apology fo r i t . But b e fo re i t you have to meet him and seek h is understanding saying that
you t o ld me a l i e such and such because I sp oiled the coat Adak i ch i had made f o r you----Tan: Eh!
Yone: Ther e f o re , you had b e t t e r make an arrange ment with Yo s h ijir o that he may t r e a t me hard in s is t in g as i f t h is c oat were h is when I g o to him to make an a p ology.
Tan: What a thing you say! Don' t t a lk nonsense! Y one: Why nons en s e ! I t may be in t e r e s t in g fo r
y o u a n d A d a k ic h i-s a n to la u g h mockingly behind me. But i f i t i s not Yoshij i r o - s an 's
coa t, sh e must s u rely be vexed at seeing th is scene. However, she cannot have the im pudence to make her appearance h ere. I t is to o bad f o r you!
( Smi l e s m ock in gly.) 23
-(Adakich i r e s o lu t e ly makes her appear ance.)
Ada: H a llo , Yonehachi-san!
( Tanj ir o g e t s su rprised and runs away.) Ada: Just I overheard your t a lk . You are saying
b i t t e r t h in g s g e t t in g v e x e d a t t h e c o a t I made f o r T a n jiro -s a n . But now th ings have
come to such a pass a f t e r th is o r that
trouble, I must r e v e a l you that we are bound up with each other in passionate lo v e .
T h e re fo re , though sorry f or you, y ou must giv e him up abiding by the in evita b le.
Yone: T h a t's an o v e rca r fu l warning to me, but I must de c lin e your reque s t . I t i s t oo s e l f i sh an id e a that you should s t e a l my husband and should demand openly when d is c overed.
Ada: Oh my! I s t o le your husband? Be ca r e fu l about what you say! You may think Tan- san i s your husband, but I have never been introduced to him as your husband and I d id n 't heard you made an announcement about your m arriage. So f a r as he i s a lo v e r fo r
the two o f us, we are f i f t y - f i f t y .
From now on I wi l l have him to m yself. You 24
- 25 -Yone: Ada: Yone : Ada: Yone: Ada: Yone: Ada: Y one: Ada: W e
11, thank you for you r tro u b le . B ut two can p la y a t the game. I d on 't want to say a s i l l y th in g , but I cannot brook the in su lt hearing your impudent way of speak- in g , however reserved I might be.
What are you goin g to do, then. I must have ju s t i c e done here.
D on't t a lk n o n s e n s e ! You must j u s t i f y y o u r s e lf fo r having t r am p le d the c oat under f o o t .
I t is an easy th in g. I am ready to s e t t l e the m atter.
(Yonehachi again p i cks up the coat . ) Now I wi l l tea r the coat to p ieces le s t t he
ro o t o f e v i l should remain.
(Yonehach i i s about to te a r up the c oa t. Adaki c hi h u rrie d ly approaches her and grasps her hand.)
Hey, Yonehac h i- san, you a r e ----. Yes, I am te a rin g up the coat.
I d o n 't spare the coat as i t has been sp o ile d l i k e th a t, but I cannot t o le r a t e to see, you are te a r in g i t up b e fo re my eyes.
Do you set y o u r s e lf a g a in s t me, then? Of course, I w i l l .
26
Tobee:
(They b egin to grapple each oth er. Thereupon. Chiba -Tobee happens to
pass by and wedges h im self between the two women.)
One moment, both two o f y ou! Ada: Oh, you a r e ----.
Yone: Tobee-san!
Tobee: Say, Adaki c h i and Yonehach i ! You may think me impudent, but I want you to lea ve the q u a rre l to me f o r m y sake. I t does not look w e ll fo r the two o f you, the most
popular g e is h a - g ir ls in Fukagawa, to be q u a rr e llin g w ith each other in a loud v o ic e lik e th a t, I am a fr a id you would make your s e lv e s a la u gh in g-sto ck . Can’ t you calm yourse lv e s down?
Ada: I wish I could put up w ith out o f res p e c t f o r you, but I am a fr a id I should be unable to remain in the qu arters i f such a d isgra ce to me got talked about in t he pu b lic .
Tobee : You may w e ll say so, but so long as the two o f you i n s i s t upon such a th in g ,
the matter w i l l not be s e t t le d . There must be a m ediator about a q u a rrel. I wish you w i l l accept my req u est f o r
27
-t he sake o f me. What do you s a y to i t , Yonehach i?
Y on e: Hearing i t , I am sorry fo r what I have done from a f i t o f anger, but now th in gs have come to th is I cannot be e a s ily r e co n cile d w ith Adakich i-s a n .
Tobee: Y ou are go in g to put me out o f counte nance?
The two: We l l , n o ----.
Tobee: Oth erw ise, you might make up w ith each oth er . Perseverance i s the f i r s t cons id e ra -
t i on in every th in g. Love i s a pleasure when both man and woman are w orried s e c r e tly in deference to oth ers. U n re s tric te d f reedom would con tra ry s p o il the pleasu re I d o n 't want to g iv e lessons to you now, but I say
i t only f o r your good.
Yone: Now I can understand you v e ry we l l . Then in accordance with your a d vice ----.
Ada: W e ll, out of c o n sid e ra tio n f o r you — Tobee: You are ready to be r e c o n c ile d ? M any
thanks. My cousin H e ijir o is much o b lig e d to T a n jir o - san. As you are connected w ith i t , I wi l l not do bad f o r you. T h erefo re please get re c o n c ile d and be on good terms w ith each other.
28 -Ada: Yone : Tobee. Ada: Yone: Tobee: Yone: Ada: Yone: Ada: Tobee:
(lo o k in g at the co a t . ) L e t me keep th i s coat the cause o f the tro u b le .
Then, th is m atter, Has been l e f t to you.
A l l r i ght . By the way, a l i t t l e while ago. I saw T a n jiro -sa n on the way and heard from him o f the tr o u b le . H e must be w a itin g a t Matsumoto an xious about the r e s u lt . Can't
you come w ith me togeth er?
Thanks, but I f e e l ra th er i l l now. I have business to do, to o .
(T h in k in g .) W e ll, is that so? Then you had b e t t e r do as you l i k e , but you must not have another q u a rre l, you se e .
No , I w i l l never do such a th in g. I a l ways have p a tien ce w ith any shame as fa r as p o s s ib le , fo r I am very weak-hearted as you see.
You canno t say i t w ith con fiden ce. You deprived a man o f his c oat and trampled i t under f o o t , d id n 't you?
I t i
s
fa r sl i g h t er a sin than to tr e a t another w ith contempt.What!
You are s t i l l adhering to such a thing? Enough your grumbling!
29
(Tobee stands between the women with the coat Adakic h i and Y onehachi confront each o th e r .)
---30
The T h ird A c t: Scene 1.
T an jiro's hou se at N akau ra, Fu kagaw a. Beg in n in g o f Ju ly .
The cu rta in ris e d w ith a popular song.
Buffoon Yoshi j i r o makes h is appearance and peeps in to the room.
Y o s h ijir o : Oh, th ere i s nobody aga in st my expecta tio n s ! I take a r e s t b e s id e the b r a z ie r to have a smoke t i l l the master comes back. ( Say-
in g to h im self he s i t s b e fo re the desk in the room.) Oh, I see. The master seems to be lea rn
in g poem w r itin g to b e g u ile the tedium. W e l l , s h a ll I g iv e a h elp to i t ? His poems are
not so good a f t e r a l l , I suppose.
(Y osh ijo r o opens the boo k on the desk and reads. Thereupon Hanj i r o a p p ears.) Ha n jir o : Wh a t, was i t you, Y o s h ijir o ?
Y o s h ijir o : Oh, Young M a s t e r ! T ru ly speaking, ju st I read th is book without le a v e think in g th ere was nobody in the house. Have you been in the back room?
H a n jiro : I have been takin g a nap at the cool p la ce.
31
-Yoshi: I s th at so? By the way. Young M aster, do you not r e c e iv e a l e t t e r from the quar t e r s these days?
Han: Sometimes I r e ce iv e some i n s e c r e t . Under such circumstances as you se e, I am
anxious to fin d out the te a -p o t as soon
as p o s s ib le the se days, so I have n o t v i s i t e d the gay qu a rters fo r a long time Murasaki must have a bi t t e r f e e l i n g to me.
Yoshi: T h e o th e r d a y , w h e n I v is ite d Y o s h iw a ra accompanying a c e rta in patron, I saw Murasaki-san. She seemed very anxiou s
about you. By the way, the whereabouts o f th e te a -p o t is s t i l l unknown?
Han: T a n jiro i s anxiou sly in search fo r i t t o g e th e r, but th ere i s s t i l l no tra c e about i t . E n t e r m y f e e l i n g s , Y o s h i j i r o .
Yoshi: Y e s , I understand you w e ll.
(Thereupon T a n jir o 's fia n cee Ocho makes her appearance.)
G o o d a f t e r n o o n . (L thmo roeoto insko.) Ocho:
Yoshi: Han: Ocho: Yos h i: Han: Yosh i: Ocho: In o suke:
Yes . W ho is com ing? (Opens the l a t t i ce) Oh, you are Ocho-san! Tan-san seems to be absent now, but you may com e in without re serve.
(Ocho en ters the r o om ma k i n g a bow.) Dear Ocho, you have not come f o r a lon g time.
Sorry, I have been s i l e n t so long owing to the pressure o f business.
I have not heard your J oru ri r e c it in g fo r a long while since I saw you at the man sion o f Mr. Matsuura l a s t month. A g i r l grows out o f r e c o g n itio n when she becomes o f m arriageable age.
How i t i s n e a rly the t ime o f your marriage to T a n jiro .
T h e re fo re , you come to see him sometimes a ll th e w a y fro m H o ri.
I d on 't know such a th in g !
(Ocho lo oks downwards b a s h fu lly , The r e- upon the v o ic e o f boatman Ino-
suke is h e a rd .) Now, walk qu ickly!
(In o suke makes h is appearance p u ll ing Gombee by the breast o f the
co a t. T a n jir o appears a f t e r them with a wet to w el, he has been t o a ba th-house.)
33
-Tan: Sa y , Inosuke , you must keep w ith in bounds. Ino: B ut I am a fr a id such a thing may become
the cause o f a tro u b le . Hey, you r a s c a l! Come on!
( Inosuke a r r iv e s a t the stage f o r c ib ly p u llin g Gombe e . Yosh i j iro , hearing his v o i ce , g e ts out of the hous e .) Yoshi : What i s the ma t t e r w ith you?
Tan: No, i t is mere a t r i f l i n g thing.
Yoshi: I s i t a qu arrel? I am ready to g iv e you a h e lp in g hand.
Tan: H elping hand would be astounded hearing a weak man lik e you say such a thing.
(T a n jir o en ters the house pushing Y o s h ijir o bac k . )
Ocho: Oh, In o-sa n ! What i s the matter w ith the ballad-hawker?
Ino: I wi l l not pardon th is f e l l o w whatever oth ers might say. You, r a s c a l! W h o asked you to spread such a thing? T e l l me the name!
Gon: That i s unreasonable o f y o u. I t i s my business to s e l l about news from here and th e re . Nobody asks me f o r such a th in g .
34
-Ino: What! Don't ta lk a qu ibble! I t i s o f no use to me whatever you might g rumb l e . Be c a r e fu l about what you say.
Say, you had bet t e r pardon and l e t him go now.
Ocho: I d o n 't know what the circumstance i s, but you had b e t t e r fo r g iv e him.
Ino: There i s no h elp fo r i t , then. Now I
l e t you go th is time. You must not appear hereabout again to spread and s e l l news. C ro ss th e b rid ge a n d go som ew h ere else.
( In osuke pushes Gombee away.)
Gombee: (A t the stage passage) N o n s e n s e ! ( I n a lo ud v o ic e ) Here i s the news o f a b ig q u a rre l happened between g e is h a - g ir l in
Fukagawa gay quarters struggling for a lover. You can know the d e t a ils at only fou r sen!
( Ex i t s away. )
Ino: Hang him! He i s s t i l l t e l l i n g a th in g l ik e that!
(In o suke is about to run a f t e r th e b a lla d - hawker, but Ocho keeps him b a c k .)
Yoshi: W e ll, I understand i t . Say Ino-san, you had b e t t e r le a v e the matter as i t i s , however.
Inosuke: But I am a fr a id i t may cause another t r o u b le if t h a t fe llo w s p r e a d such a thing in th eir neighbourhood.
Han: There happened some tro u b le in the gay q u a rters ?
Ino: We l l .
Yos h i: We l l i t i s something lik e a tro u b le . Ocho: How di d the trouble came to happen? Yosh i: The le s s sa id about i t the b e t t e r . Tan: I wish you would not ta lk about.
(Makes a sign w ith an e y e .)
Yosh i: L ik e a p la y e r 's words , "Without knowing anything —"
Ocho: Eh?
Yosh i: Oh, Tachibanaya!
Ino: You are always a n o isy fe llo w ! I wasted my time troubled by a s i l l y b a lla d - hawker l i k e th at. I must be go in g now. Tan: You might stay w ith us a l i t t l e lo n ger. Ino: No, thank you. I s h a ll come again.
Yosh i : Then, I go with you as f a r as o v e r-th ere.
Tan: Are you going, too?
Yoshi: I must have a t a lk w ith you about the news in qu estion, but i t is inconvenient to do i t in th is scene. (Shows Ocho
36
-with h is ch in. ) I w i l l come a g a i n ----y ou. see.
( Tan j i r o makes a nods ) Ino: Come qu ickly i f you go w ith me!
Yoshi : You are always short-tem pered (to Hanj i r o ) Excuse me.
(Y o s h ijir o e x i t s wit h Inosuke.) Tan: As the n o isy two are gone, the house
has become qu i t e s t i l l . ( Sm iles . ) H an jiro: Now I remember a th in g. I must
be goin g, to o (R ise s to h is f e e t . ) Tan: Where are you going now?
Han: To the f u rn itu re d ea ler at the fo o t o f E it a i b r id g e .
Tan: In v e s t ig a t io n o f the te a -p o t? Though h e lp le s s , I am a ls o anxious about i t . Sorry fo r you, i t i s so d i f f i c u l t to g e t i t .
Han: I s h a ll have to k i l l my sel f i f I c annot obtain i t . (G ets seated a g a in .)
Ocho: Say, you must not become so s h o rt-te m-pered.
Han: I need not to say i t again now, but I was deprived o f the important te a pot on my way home a f t e r having been
37 Tan: Han: Tan: Ocho: Han: Tan:
asked to make i t s box. Being respon s ib le fo r i t I was disowned from my
fam ily and m oreo ver in cu rred my
ma s t e r ’ s d isp lea su re. By the good o f f i c e s o f Mr . Honda I was g iv e n one hundred
days fo r the in v e s tig a tio n o f the te a pot. But now th at i t s whereabouts are s t i l l unknown---- .
Don’ t say so ch ic ken-hearted a th in g . I wi l l su rely f ind out the te a -p o t to save your fa c e. P lea se c alm y o u r s e lf and w ait fo r the time.
For a l l my e f f o r t s , I cannot but f e e l uneasy about i t . Though perhaps u s eless, I am goin g to the fa m ilia r fu r n itu r e - d e a le r.
That i s good , but I ask you never to g e t s h o rt-te m p e re d
P lea se come back as soon as p o s s ib le . Excuse me.
(H anjiro le a v e s the house in fa s t s t e p s .)
Ah! There i s not a ca r e - fr e e person in the w orld!
38
Ocho: By the way, Brother , I hear about a rumour that you have some r e la t io n s
w ith a g e is h a -g irl named Adakich i. The news in question i s perhaps about the m atter.
Tan: Eh?
Ocho: I know your lo ve a f f a i r w ith Yonehachi-san. F or m ercy's sa k e, I ask you not to g iv e me tro u b les by having another s e cre t one.
A l l r ig h t . I am on v i s i t i n g terms with Adakichi because I had something to ask o f her fa vou r, but I assure you there i s no a n xiety about i t . By the way, dear Ocho, you came in the n ick o f t i me. W ill you please sew up a r ip I made at the bath house a l i t t l e w h ile age?
Ocho: May I do i t ?
Don’ t t a lk n o n sen se! I t i s a w i f e 's business, you see.
Ocho: A l l r ig h t .
Tan: Then I wi l l go to t he back room and take o f f my c lo th e s .
- 39
-(Tanj ir o e n te r s the back room w ith Ocho. Thereupon Adaki c hi makes her appearance f o l l o wed by g e is h a - g ir l M asaji tr y in g to hold h e r back. )
M a s a ji: Just w a it , Adaki c h i !
Adaki chi : But I cannot but be vexa tio u s. I must tell Tan-san what I think.
Masaji: Wait a moment, anyhow!
(The two reach the s t a g e .) Adaki oh i: (Peeping in to the room.)
Oh, there i s nobody!
Masaji : Just lis t e n to me. Don’ t you f e e l vexatiou s having got your d isgra ce talk ed l i k e that a l l over the Fuka- gawa quarters?
Ada: I said so, more t h an once. You are d eaf!
Masaji : Then, you ought to muster up your courage and behave y o u r s e lf . I f you suddenly storm in , Tan-san would grow out o f lo v e w ith you again st your ex- pec ta tio n s .
40
-(A d ak ich i rudely opens the l a t t i ce, when T a n jiro makes h is appearance
from the back room.)
Tan: (To the back room) I ask you, then. Ada: Hallo, Tan-san!
Tan: Oh, Adakich i- s an! Ada: How vexatiou s I am!
Tan: What? I t i s a su rprise to me. (Look ing a t o u ts id e .) Oh, Ma s a j i - san is t o g e t h er with you! Come t h is way, p le a s e .
Masaji: May I come in? ( En te rs the house.) Adakichi: The v e ry thought extrem ely i r r i
ta te s me!
Tan: You said i t j ust now. What on earth is the matter?
Ada: Yonehachi-san t r ampled the co a t under fo o t .
Tan: You are sa y ing i t again? The m atter was alread y s e t t le d by the good o f f i c e s o f Tobee-san. You need not be so s p it e fu l. Ma s a ji: Excuse me f or interfering w ith you.
You say the m atter was s e t t le d , but i t has not y e t been rooted ou t. You
41
-Ada: I t once cam e to an end out o f resp ect fo r Tobee-san, but now that the event has been talked about by a ballad-hawker a l l over Fukag awa, I cannot put up w ith any l o ng e r .
T a n
: I t i s s i l l y o f you. A rumour l a s t s but
nine-day s . You had b e t t er fo r g e t the m atter. Ada: I t w i l l not go as you say. She put me
to a gre a t shame by tr a mp lin g down the coat I made fo r you.
Tan: You have a continuous grudge again st Yonehachi?
Ada: Yonehachi and I are r i v a l s to each o th er. As she is b earin g a grudge aga in st me, i t is natural f or me to think i l l o f her. By the way, I must say on e th in g to you. I sha l l have to say b i t t e r th in gs a ga in st Yone- hachi i f I see her a t any t i me.
T h erefo re, I must ask you to make up your mind and assure i t now. Unless you have a firm d eterm in ation , I should be put in a g rea t scandalous s itu a t io n , however courageously I mig h t fig h t
42
-against Y on eh achi. P le a s e abide by the in e v ita b le and never grow out o f lo ve with me. I pray you.
T a n
: You need not make t o o much o f i t . Such as I lo o k , I am a man. There is no a n xiety about i t ! Eh, Ma sa ji-sa n ? Masaji : As you say i t y o u r s e lf, th ere i s no
thing s o c e r t a in , but remember that she is s u ffe r in g many hardships fo r your sake. She i s a l l the more being wor r ie d because such an event happened at the la s t moment when she was about to make e f f o r t s f o r g e t tin g the te a -p o t in the face o f p a in fu l f e e lin g s .
Ada: W is h in g t o o b t a in th e t e a - p o t , I am ready to show my fa ith fu ln e s s to you p u ttin g up with any p a in fu l thing . P lea se en ter my f e e lin g s .
Tan: (Stepping forw ard) Then, the te a pot in question - —?
A d a
: Yes. ( draws c lo s e r to him and whis pers som ething.)
Tan: W e ll, w ith in to n i g h t ----?
Ada: I w i l l s u rely g ive i t to you, but i nstead of i t . I have a th ing to ask a favour o f you.
43
-Tan: What do you want w ith me?
Ada: I am a fr a id , y ou might forsak e me i n c o llu s io n w ith Yonehach i-s a n i f yon onc e g et the te a -p o t.
Tan: Enough your su sp icion ! How could I be have in a h ea rtle s s manner l i k e th at? Masaj i : B u t it is n a t u r a l fo r your lo v e r to
think from t h i s to th a t. T h erefo re you might g iv e ear to any o f her wishes. Tan: Of course I w i l l s e e what I can
do f o r her.
Ada: You r e a l l y mean i t?
Tan: I am not t e l l i n g a l i e . Ada: A l l r i g h t . T h e n , t h i s - - - - .
(A dakichi holds T a n jir o by the hand and r o l l s up h is s le e v e . There i s found a ta too "Yonehac hi " on the l e f t a r m . )
Mas a j i : Oh, th ere i s an o ld - f a s hioned th in g l i k e t h is !
A d a
: Say, Tan-san. Since you asked me to
ob ta in the te a -p o t you promised more than once that you wou ld cro ss out th is t a t too, but you have not y e t fu lfille d your promise.
44
-You can r e s o lu t e ly c ro s s i t our now i f you are f a i t h f u l to me.
(Draws out her h a ir - p in and put i t in the b r a z ie r . )
M asaji: W e l l , i t ' s a goo d id ea . You must g ra n t h e r re q u e s t.
Ada: You cow ardly r e je c t i t ?
Tan: We l l ! You may do as you l i k e .
Ada: You need not g iv e n o tic e to Yonehach i-san?
Tan: You may c r o ss i t out without c a llin g my s p e c ia l a tte n tio n about such a th in g .
(T a n jir o s t r e t c h e s out h is arm. A d a k a ch i ta k es u p th e h a ir - p in and burns the tattoo w ith i t . ) T
a n
: Hav e you been s a t i s f i e d now?
Ada: I f e e l r e lie v e d a l i t t l e , but s t i l l ----. M asaji: I suggested you what you should do
n e x t. Do you care to put an end to the f i r s t a c t ?
Ada: L et me see . (H e s ita te s to g o .)
M a s a j i : I m a y g o a h e a d i f I a m d is tu rb in g you. Ada: Oh my ! I go w ith y ou. You must not f or
-g s t the prom ise, you s e e . Tan-san. Tan: A l l r i g h t . A s f o r the te a -p o t — .
45
-Ada: O.K. I know what I am about.
M a s a ji: As things are l i k e t h is , th ere i s no a nx ie t y . Excuse me f or having distu rbed you.
Tan: Please come again.
Ada: Good-bye .
(A dakichi a n d M a s a j i g e t out o f the house.)
Ada: How hot i t i s! I am a l l in a sweat. M asaji: You must be very hot what w ith
weeping w hat with lau ghin g.
Ada: Sorry f or having shown o f f an awful scene.
Mas a: Because o f heat a wheat-gruten would have bean m elted. I t may be an i n s i nuation to you?
Ada: What do you mean?
M asaji: I am ta lk in g o f y our nose. Ada: D on't t a lk nonsense.
(Adakichi p a ts Masa j i on the shoulder. They s ta r t to e x i t in la u g h te r.
Thereupon Yonehachi m akes her a p p e a ra n c e . T h e y tu rn a w a y th e ir fa ces from each other and pass by. Adakich i and Ma s a j i e x i t . Yonehachi reaches the sta ge and en ters the house. I n t he room T a n jir o i s reading the book o f
- 4 6 -
poem.)
T a n jiro : (H earing Yonehachi' s s tep s . ) Did you fo r g e t something? (Continues to
read.)
Yonehachi: W e ll, I om itted to mention a th in g . (Ta n jir o g e ts s u r p r is e d a t s e e u b g
Yonehachi.)
Tan: 0h , Yonehachi?
Y one: Why you are surprised lik e that? I th in k I may come in to th is house. O therw ise, you might put a placard at
the entrance. ("Nobody should come in b u t A d a k ich i" ---- .
Tan: D on't ta lk a s i l l y thing. Yosh i-j ir o v i s i t e d me a l i t t l e time ago. Yonehachi: Oh my ! Yos h i j i r o came d is
guised as a woman? T h a t is n o t a fa r c e . E n o u g h y o u r lie !
( Pours tea from the e a r t h e n pot and drinks a bi t . )
Oh my ! T h i s i s water. Hot as i t i s , you ought to prepar e t e a . You have
almost lo s t y o u r s e lf!
I wonder why you are grumbling about. Tan:
47
Yone: D o n 't p la y in n o c e n t! How vexa tiou s I am! (Throws out the te a -c u p .) T
a n
: Be q u iet f o r decency’ s sake.
Y one: B e tte r say i t to Adak ic h i-s a n . I don’ t stand on ceremony, fo r I am
y our w ife . I say the same th in g when- ever I see you, but I want you to r emem- ber a l l the circum stances from the be ginning and what hardships I have
s u ffe re d f o r your sake. Take time to consider and say whether I am unreasonal or Adakich i - s a n ----.
(th in k in g ) But a ft e r a l l I sh a ll h a ve to g i ve up — ( Heaves a deep sigh) I envy Adak ic h i-san indeed!
Tan: What a thing you should, say! He a
r-ing you say such a thr-ing I must a ls o say something to i t . Your grumbling must be kept within bounds.
Yo n e : I am querulous by nature and not so s e n s ib le as Adakich i-sa n .
T a n
: Again yon say such a thing? I put up with w hile I had my coat trampled down by you at Obanaya because I thought I was wrong. Such as I lo o k , I have a p r id e . I am sorry to g iv e trou b les to
48 -Yone: Ocho: Yone: Ocho: Tan: Yone:
you so lo n g . L et us sever our connec tio n s w ith each other to make ou rselves easy.
Wha t? You want to g e t through w ith me l e s t I should say bi t t e r th ings, d on 't you? A ll r ig h t ! That may be goo d. SEven i f you break o f f with me you s t i l l have r e la t io n s w ith Oc ho-san and Adakichi-san . But I should be l e f t alone i f I g e t
through w ith you. Now th in gs have c ome to suc h a pass, I have made up my mind. Remember i t .
( She r is e s to her f e e t and s ta r ts to go, when Ocho appears.
H a llo , Yonehach i - san! (Keep her ba ck .) Oh, you have been t here? As you heard j ust now, Tan-san has grown out o f lo ve w ith me. This i s my l a st me e tin g w ith you.
Oh my! D on't say such a th in g , pl e a s e — B roth er, ca n 't you h e lp me to keep
Yonehach i-s a n .
Say, Yonehach i, you need not be e x i t e d lik e that. You had b e t t er calm y o u r s e lf.
I t is natu ral fo r me to get exc i ted . I cannot continue to live now that my lo v e r has g o t d i sgusted w ith me.
- 49
-P lease l e t me go away.
Ocho: (Checks Yonehachi) Help me, Brother!
Tan: ( Rises to his f e e t . ) Hey, i t was mere t i t for t a t . I d id n 't r e a l l y mean i t . Calm y o u r s e lf.
Yone: No! Ple a s e l e t me go. As th ere are many b rid ges in Fukagawa, I can k i l l m yself at any p la ce.
(The two tr y to keep back Yone-
hachi. In the tro u b le . Hon d a-Jir o , a samurai makes h is appearance
wearing a deep straw -hat and stands a t the e n tra n c e .)
Honda: Excuse me.
Tan: Y es , s i r . (Makes the two enter the back room and opens the l a t t i c e .
Honda: Oh, you are Tanj i ro? (Takes o f f the h a t . )
Tan: Oh, you are Mr. Honda! Come t h is way p lea se.
Honda: Excuse me. ( En ter s the hou se.) Tan: A d istin gu ish ed person lik e you has
come to such a humble house. I am much o b lig e d to you.
Honda: I came here not f o r other purpose. Is Hanjiro sta yin g at your house?
Honda: You must t e l l the t r u t h , otherw ise you w i l l be s o rry f o r i t .
Tan: We l l , I hide Hanji ro-sama in my house, but now he i s j ust absent.
Honda: Don’ t you know when he w i l l come back? Tan: What do you want w ith Hanjiro-sama?
Honda: ( t aking a p o l i ceman's rope) I t i s th is . Tan: Eh ! (G ets su rp rised . )
Honda: Hanjiro is responsible for having lo s t the p reciou s tea -p ot o f the l o r d ' s
fa m ily . He was about to be s e rio u s ly punished when I asked the lo r d to g i ve him one hundred days and arranged that he might fin d out the te a -p o t w ith in the
term. However, I h ea rd n oth in g of h im since th en, and moreover they say, he i s lea d in g a d is sip a ted l i f e having f a l l e n i n lo v e w ith a p r o s t it u t e o f Yosh i- wara fa r from making any e f f o r t fo r the in v e s t ig a t io n . Now th a t things are lik e t h is , i t i s o f no use to show him e it h e r
sympathy or p i t y . I must immediately take him t o the mansi on and put him under the law.
I t is natural f or you to ge t i ndignant lik e tha t , but tru ly speaking he has given
50
Honda: Tan: Honda: Tan: Honda: Ocho: Ma s a j i : Ocho:
up v i s i t i n g Yoshiwara and i s making every e f f o r t in search f or the te a - po t. To
day he has gone somewhere fo r the in v e s t ig a t io n .
You r e a lly mean i t ? I am not t el l i n g a l i e .
Then, I may f o r g iv e him, but now only a few days are l e f t by the end o f the term. I must see him b e fo re that time. C an 't you l e t me see him?
Oh, i t i s q u ite easy. He has gone to a fu r n itu r e -d e a le r at the f o ot o f the E it a i b rid g e . Now I am going w ith you .
Good. Thank you f o r your trou b le w h ile i t is so h o t.(The two exit. Thereupon
Masaji
makes her appearance and sees them o f f . )
M a s a
ji: (Opening the l a t t i c e ) Excuse me. Y es. Who i s coming? (A p p ears.)
Oh, Ocho-san! Just now I met
Tan-san and was as ke d t o b rin g his to - bacco-pouch.
Oh, you are M asaji-san . Brother was here t i l l a l i t t l e time ago. I wonder when he went out.
M asaji: He said he was goin g to Ma t sumoto 51
-to meet Adakichi-san. (A s i f speaking to h e r s e l f . ) I am anxious how the m atter w i l l be s e t t le d now th at the
two are in fa tu a ted w ith each other lik e th a t.
Ocho: Then, as I expected — .
M a sa ji: Gi ve me h is tobacco-pouch q u ick ly . Yonehach i: (Appearing from the back room)
I w i l l take the tobacco-pouch w ith me. Ma s a ji: Oh Yonehachi-san! Hav e you been
h e re too?
-Yone: Ocho: Yone: Oc ho: Yonehac h i : M asaji:
Thank y ou f o r your trou b le , Ma s a ji -s a n. You s h a ll soon know.
(Y onehac hi s t ar t s to go out with a th rea ten in g lo o k . Ocho keeps her back)
Where a r e you g o ing, Yonehachi san?
I wi l l s to rm in to the room o f Matsumoto and say b i t t e r t h ings to the t wo to my hear t con ten t.
L et me g o ! B u t ---L et me g o !
(Yonehac hi shakes o f f Ocho' s hold a nd runs away a t f u l l speed. Ocho f o l l ows her.
M a s a ji re m a in s in th e h o u s e .) H u m ! H o w fo o lis h th e y a re !
(b u rs ts out lau gh ing . T h e s ta g e re v o lv e s ) 1
-SCENE 2 The s emi- d e t a ched r o om o f Ma tsumot o .
From the l e f t s ide Yonehachi and Ocho makes th e ir appearance w ith s te a lth y step s.
Och o: (in a low v o ic e ) Say, Yonehac hi-san! (h o ld s her back)
Yonehac h i: Let me alone! (Yonehachi pushes Ocho away and rudely opens the s lid in g door o f the room, where she finds Furuma Sabunta d rin k in g sake served by Adaki c hi . Both Yonehachi
and Ocho get su rp rised )
Yone: Oh, you a r e
---Ocho: Aga in st my e x p e c t a t io n s
---Ad a k ich i : H a llo , Yonehachi san! W hat do you want w ith me a l l o f a sudden?
Yone: Eh!
Sabunta: What on ea rth i s the matter? You must make an apology f o r having rushed i nto
my room without le a v e . ( Yonehachi remains s i l e nt )
Ocho: We are i n search fo r a c e rta in person on urgent business, but we made a blunder in coming to th is room r e c k le s s ly .
Please forgive us. 2
3
-Adak ichi: Say, Yonehac hi -s a n . Y ou seems to have urgent b usiness as you c ame to such a place in everyday c lo th e s . I heard you are in search
f o r a c e r ta in person . Whom do you mean ? Hey, Yonehachi san! Why don' t you make
an answer? I am a fr a id you have been possessed by something seein g you lu rk in g about
suc h a house. This i s a geisha-house ma tsumoto, you see.
Sabunta: Then, th is is the noted g e is h a - g ir l named
Yonehachi? She is r e a lly b e a u tifu l as I heard. Ad ak ich i: A fic k le m a n you are! (g iv e s a pinch)
Sabunta: Ouch ! Don’ t use v io le n c e .
I only said she is a b e a u tifu l woman,
Ada:
you s e e .
I am vexed at i t . I t is o f no use
Sabunta:
whatever you may think o f him;
Yonehachi-san has a handsome husband named Tanj i r o . Is she T a n j i r o 's w ife , then?
Yone: (r a is in g her f a c e )
Sabu:
Though engaged in such a bu sin ess, I have
an honourable husban d .
That is Tanjir o ?
Adakichi : When she does not see her husband e v e n f o r a moment, she looks f o r him here
Yone: Ada: Yone: Ada: Yone: Ada: Yone: Ocho: Ada: Ocho: Masa j i : Ocho: M asaji:
and there lik e a lu n a t ic . That is her weakness. She m ust be in search f o r her husband now.
As you g u e s s e d , I c a m e here look in g f o r my husband. Say, Ada k ich i - san, l e t me see
him w ithout p reten d in g in n ocen t! Whom do you mean?
I am t a lk in g o f Tan- san .
Something is s tr a n g e w ith you!
I have been here w ith Sabunt a - s ama f o r s ome tim e. I did not see the le a s t s ig h t o f Tan- san .
D o n 't p reten d in n o cen t! Why I pretend innocent?
Have you any evidence that I hid Tan-s a n somewhere?
Oh yes! T h a t is w h y I ca m e to th is house a f t e r him. A l i t t l e time ago, M asaji-san came to my house and to ld me that you and Brother were m eeting h e re . M asaji-san to ld such a t h ing?
N o n e s e n s e ! S o m e th in g is s tra n g e w ith her, to o. Hearing i t ,
I fin d i t d i f f i c u l t to j u s t ify m yself b efore master. But Ma s a ji- s a n r e a l l y said so.
(Thereupon Ma s a ji makes her appearance) H a llo ! When did I say such a th in g ? A l i t t l e w h ile ago, a t my house. W e ll, I met you on the way here,
i t i s true, but I have no remembrance o f saying such a th in g .
-Yone: Ma s a ji: Ocho: M asaji: Sabunta: Ada: Yone: M asaji: Sabun:
That Tan-san went out suddenly t e s t i f i e s to the f a c t . D on 't b e so u n reason ab le!
You cannot be sure he came here without f a i l because he is not at home.
Anyhow I have no remembrance o f saying a th in g lik e th at .
But in the presence o f me ---Shut up!
Such a fa ls e charge would g iv e tro u b les to e verybody. You are a liar unbecoming your face. Then, th is daughter to ld a l i e and
T a n jiro is not in th is house? No, i t cannot be.
W e can n ot d ep en d u p on th e w ord s of a liar and a lunatic like those.
You tr e a t me as a lu n a tic? Wait a moment!
W e ll, I u n d e rs ta n d . Y o u c a m e h e re to p ic k a q u a rre l b y m ak in g a fa lse ch arge u p on A d ak ich i-san .
W h a t! S h e c a m e to p ic k a q u a rrel? That is an im proper condu ct.
Now Yoneha c h i's husband Tan j i r o is a rude f e llo w . I hear he is lu rking about here and there f o r the i nves tig a tio n of the tea-p o t.
I wi l l dispose o f him a t any moment I fin d him. - 5
