Sendai Hagi

S H O C H I K U

Kabuki p l a y

"SENDAI HAGI"

By Na g aw a Kamesuke

Scene of the inne r room in Ashikaga house

---TO BE PRESENTED BY BIGY0KU TROUPE

FROM DEC . TO ' 47.

AT MINA MIZA ( K y o t o ) X X X X X X

CAST: Masaoka Ts uruchiyo Senmatsu Sakae-gozen Y a s h i o Matsushima Okinoi Sh i n o b i Ka t o j i W a i t r e s s SYNOPSIS:

Masaoka the wet-nurse o f Ts u r u c h i y o - g i mi the young l o r d o f A shikaga house, t a k e s care of him from a p l o t a g a i n s t h i s l i f e by N i k k a i Da n j o w i t h h i s s o n ' s s c a p e g o a t.

The ma i n stage i s s e t up as an i n n e r room in a p al ace of daimyo, w i t h golden s l i d i n g s c r e e n s , bamboo-screens a l l around. T o the r i g h t i s a small stag e f o r J o r u r i - r e c i t e r . C u r t a i n r i s e s .

Joruri:

Tsuru:

Masa:

" S e e i n g o f f Masaoka sinks In deep thought o f young l o r d ’ s f u t u r e .

For her own f a l s e charge i s now c l e a r e d up, But the cloud c o v e r e d him i s not c l e a r e d

u p y e t . She has no one t o co n su l t w i th , But alone t h i n k s o v e r in gloomy h e a r t Her uneasy look g i v e s some t h i n g uneasy

To her own son Senmatsu and P r i n c e Tsuru ch iyo They bot h s t a r e her u n e a s i l y . "

(Wh i l e the j o r u r i i s r e c i t e d the bamboo- s c r e e n is r a i s e d up. A t a b l e , a s e t of t e a - t h i n g o . A cage f o r sparrows.

Masaoka stands w i t h a s m a l l - d i n n e r t a b l e in her hands. T s u r u c h i y o - g i m i and Senmatsu s i t in t h e i r p l a c e s .

We l l , w e t - n u r s e , may I t e l l what I want t o , now?

Yes, you may. No one but we are here.

Indeed, you were v e r y c l e v e r not t o take the d in n er which Okinoi-dono p r e s e n t e d to

you. I am v e r y much p l e a s e d with you, f o r you remembered kept my w or ds .

You have done w e l l ! 2

-"F o r h e r c o m p lim e n ts , w ith c h ild is h h e a r t s , "

I say, Nu r s e , as you used t o say t h a t a st r on g samurai must not s peak t he word " h u n g r y " I d o n ' t want t o say the word,

but my s t o mach i s empty f o r a time, you s e e . Oh; You a r e r i g h t . I w i l l rea dy the meal f o r you as u s u a l . L i s t e n to me.

The wi c k e d g o t power in the p a l a c e now. There i s none to r e l y on f o r us.

F a i t h f u l l r e t a i n e r , Tetsunosuke i s kept a t a d i s t a n c e by a sl an de r of the wicked, and you are surrounded by those w i ck e d. So I order to t h r o w away the dinner

which they prepared f o r you, f o r I am a f r a i d i f the p o is on might be a d m i n i s t e r e d in i t . I know that you are hungry.

But you never say so, I have t o hast e to make i t . Now .

---" S t a n d i n g up t o make the meal, Takes out a f i n e bag o f r i c e .

Then dips hot water from the k e t t l e ,

And g i v e s i t t o Senmatsu f o r the t a s t e o f p o i s o n . - 3

-Ts u r u :

T s u r u : Se n : Masa: Sen: Masa: Se n : Tsuru: Sen: Masa: A

fter the t a s t e she washes the r i c e w it h i t In t e a r s w i t h pure h e a r t .

Then p our s i t i n t o an i r o n pot t o bo i l ,

And makes f i r e w i th a fan in h e a r t f u l p a i n . " (Du ri n g t h i s J o r u r i r e c i t a l ,

Ma s a oka makes the meal)

) Oh! The meal i s r e a d y a l r e a d y . " s e e i n g her son i s p l e a s e d , t o o , She f e e l s more sorrow f o r them both,

Trying t o keep back her t e a r s , " I am p r e s e n t i n g now.

Mama, hurry up f o r him.

I t must be b o i l e d up a l i t t l e more.

As you a r e c l e v e r , p l e a s e s i n g the song of s parrow as usual f o r him in w a i t i n g . " Be i n g reproved f e e l s t e a r s in h i s e y e s , Ne a r l y c r y i n g in hiccupping s o b , ”

Oh the t e a - p l a n t in the back yard, Three sparrows are p e r c h i n g ,

And one s parrow s i n g s

The b r i d e who come l a s t n i g h t , ho - h o- ho - h o. " F r o m the bamboo-leaves Comes down the mother s p a r r o w ,

And g i v e s the f o o d to her c h i l d ,

The c h i l d sparrow r e c e i v e s i t w i t h her b i l l S e e i n g them,”

- 5-

Tsuru: Oh! L ook at t h e m! The mother spa r r o w i s g i v i n g fo o d to her c h i l d . I want to e a t r i c e meal, t o o , soon.

Masa:

" En t e r i n g t o h i s c h i l d i s h f e e l i n g t o envy the b i r d ,

She keeps away her sympathy, And t r i e s t o c o m f o r t him Si n g i n g in t e a r f u l l v o i c e , ” S i n g s . (My son, Senmatsu went---- )

Oh, Senmatsu, what happen ed to you w i th such a l o o k i n g ? Do n ' t c r y . You a r e a l i t t l e

samurai, I say .

Si n g s : Went to a g o l d mine, when he was seven or e i g h t y e a r s o l d .

(Then the s parrow s c a t t e r s away. Masaoka sinks in deep t h o u g h t , )

" A nd never be back For an y e a r . " Ts u r u : Nurse, i s n ’ t t h e meal ready ye t? Masa: Oh! Y es , I am p r e s e n t i n g now.

" And i s w a i t i n g in va in F or two y e a r s ”

(Then Masaoka a r r e s t s a w i ckes K a t o j i and h i d e s him under the s k i r t o f her l o n g

Se n :

o v e r - d r e s s . )

Mama, the meal i s n ' t ready y e t ?

Masa: Oh! d o n ' t hasten me, you a l s o are i l l - b e h a v e d , a r en ' t you?

6 -Sen: Masa: Sen: Masa: Sen: Masa: Masa: Masa:

No, I don t want t o e a t , but I sympat h i z e him f o r h i s empty stomach.

Oh ! he never hastens me , as he i s s t r o n g . I t i s you who coax me.

No, no, I never coax you. Oh ! you d o n ' t , you say? Then s i n g that song m e r r i l y . " b e i n g urg e d,

In t e a r f u l t o n e , "

Cr i e s , s o r r o w f u l l y she c r i e s , " Si n g o in f e e b l e v o i c e ,

Mo t h e r accompanies him,

Keeping back her t e a r s , t o o , " F or what sorrow does she cry?

"The ve ry song comes back s t r a i g h t on her h e a r t ,

F or the l o v e t o he r own son her he art i s n e a r l y broken. But she stands f o r her young l ord s t r o n g l y . "

Oh, Senmatsu, t h e r e comes a l a p - d o g . Ca l l h i m !

"as he c a l l s , i t comes near e r

on th e v e r a n d a , "

O h ! Y ou came here j u s t at the r i g h t time You are l u c k y . You may e a t

t h i s dinner prepared f o r your

e v e r y morni n g and e v e n i n g , " H e e n v i e s the b i r d s

in the cage f o r t h e i r f o o d . " Masa: I can understand him w e l l ,

but what an i l l - s t a r r e d l o r d he i s ! 7

-deed to comfo r t him. Oh! e a t !

"Saying

she p u t s i t

on the

paper.

The l a p - d o g eat s i t in rapture Se e i n g i t the young l o r d , "

T s u r u : Nu r s e ! I w is h. I were a l a p dog. "He e n v i e s the d o g . ”

Ma s a : Oh! I can understand you. "Among so many men in Japan You were born f o r t u n a t e l y

As the l o r d of f i f t y f o u r s t a t e s . " Masa : And i s pe r m i t t e d t o l i v e l u x u r i o u s l y ,

n o t h i n g n o t t o be g r a n t e d .

However, i t comes to pass to bear such a sad p a i n f u l days f o r him u n e x p e c t e d l y , As I ca n’ t p r e s e n t him p l e n t y o f fo od

8

Tsuru:

Ma s a :

" T o be i n f e r i o r t o a dog and spa r r o w in s e r v i c e How can be said f a i t h f u l .

In deep sorrow f o r her p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n ,

She burst out i n t o t e a r s At the r e a r of the sc r ee n , In d i f f i d e n c e to her l o r d .

Though the l o r d i s v e r y young y e t , He i s endowed w i t h

d i g n i t y and g r a c e as a l o r d , " W el l , nurse, why are you c r y i n g ?

Do n ' t c r y , as I don’ t ha sten you any more. Wh i l e Senmatsu i s w a i t i n g , I , t o o ,

w a i t . I w a i t u n t i l l you both e a t .

Though I can e a t , i t ’ s no good t o me, i f

you d i e in hunger. Senmatsu, you a lso c a n ' t d i e . I w i l l w a i t f o r e v e r u n t i l l

---Oh! You said t h a t . I thank: you. But i t i s a charm to b o i l r i c e w e l l .

Only a charm my weeping was. I have no t h in g t o weep ho-h o-h o-h o. I t ’ s f u n y

9

-B y t h e c h a r m the r i c e i s b o i l e d a l r e a d y . I w i l l make a r i c e - b a l l f o r you as u su al .

"She t a ke s a handful r i c e , and makes a b a l l . He i s w a i t i n g i m p a t i e n t l y f o r i t ,

And h o l d s out h i s l i t t l e hand.

Masa:

(Masaoka puts r i c e - b a l l s on the ca nd y-dish and p r e s e n t s t o h i m . )

We l l , w a i t a moment. We must examin over and over f o r your p a t i e n c e f o r l o n g time, Beg in wi th i t !

( She g i v e s an o r d e r to Senmatsu. Senmatsu e a t s one of them . M asaoka l o o k i n g h i s f a c e , ) No d a n g e r . N o w you may have in peac e.

" He a r i n g her words, He i s p l e a s e d ,

And takes a handful b a l l in g r e a t r a p t u r e , I n s p i t e of h i s r i c h domain,

s y m p a t h iz i n g him in such s i t u a t i o n , And t h i n k i n g o f her own,

She weeps in her h e a r t Th e n , " (A

n

w a i t r e s s comes out from the sta ge p a s s a g e ) Wa i t : I say, Sakae-gozen-sama w i l l be here now.

lO

-Masa: I wonder why Mr s . Yamana w i l l be here at t h i s time. I sa y, Senmatsu, r e t i r e t o the

nex t room. Do n ' t f o r g e t what I ’ ve t a l k e d t o you.

Se n : O.K.

Masa: Then, hurry up!

" d r i v e s him away”

(Senmatsu r e t i r e s t o the inne r room. Masaoka r i n g s f o r the w a i t r e s s .

Puts on the l o n g over d r e s s . Then a t i n n e r room,) Y a s h i s : ( v o i c e ) Le t us g r e e t Saka e- g oz en , as she i s coming i n . Masa: Yashio: Ok i: Matsu:

( Y a s h i o , Ok i n o i , Matsushima come out t o g e ther )

" Le t t i n g them open the s l i d i n g - s c r e e n s ,

Mr s . Yamana, S akae- goze n . ”

( I n t o an a i r of c o n f u s i o n ,

Sakae-gozen comes out from s t a g e - p a s s a g e in b e a u t i f u l l o n g o v e r - d r e s s . a w a i t r e s s w i th a ca ke -b ox in h e r hands and two w a i t r e s s w i t h a ha n d -l a n t er n in each of t h e i r hands f o l l o w h e r) As I heard t h a t Saka e - g o z e n - s a ma w i l l be h e r e , Nurse Masaoka, as an a t t e n d a n t

f o r our l o r d Tsurukiyo-maru who i s now i l l , A

regent Da n j o ' s s i s t e r , Ya s h i s , Tamura Uk y o ' s w i f e , Ok i n o i , Shib a S a k y o ' s w i f e Mats ushima ,

- 1 1 -

A l l : Ar e meeting you h e r e .

Sakae: Thank you f o r your t r o u b l e t o meet me here in s pi t e o f i l l n e s s .

Masa: F i r s t o f a l l .

A l l : Come here.

Dakae: Excuse me.

( S i t s to the r i g h t )

Ma s a : Now, Sa k a e - g o z e n - s a ma , I ask you. I f we could see why are you h e r e , Y a s h i s : We a l l ,

T

hey al l : Are g l a d . Sakae:

*

Oh! The reason, why I am here now, i s o n l y t o know the c o n d i t i o n of

T s ur u ch iy o -d on o i n s t e a d o f my husband. As they say that Tsuruchiyo-dono

avoid the m a l e - v i s i t o r s , and has a poor a p p e t i t e , my husband send me to

see him in bed and ask me t o pre sen t t h i s cakes from t h e r e g e n c y . I am g l a d as a messenger i f he a p p r e c i a t e s t h i s Y a s h i o !

Pr e s e n t t h i s t o him,

" As she holds out t h e c a ke- bo x, Y a s h i o r e c e i v e s i t and,"

12

-Ya s h i o : Oh, I s e e . He r e i s a kind pr e se n t from the r e g e n c y , i t ’ s b e t t e r t o a p p r e c i a t e i t t o you.

" o p e n in g t h e b o x , ” ( Open t he b o x )

Won d e r fu l ! H o w f i n e they are! What a d e l i c i o u s - l o o k i n g t he y have! T ake out whatever

you l i k e .

" A s h e i s about to t a k e , ” Masa: A h ! j u s t a minute.

(As Tsuruch i y o is about t o t a k e , Masaoka pr e v e n t s him)

Sakae: W e l l , Masaoka!

Why do you s t o p him?

Masa : Oh! T hat i s .

Sakae: I see, n ow. A r e you a f r a i d o f t h i s cake from the reg en cy?

Ma s a : No, I n e v e r .

Sakae: I f you are n o t . Why d o n ' t you p r e s e n t i t

by y o u r s e l f ? I t must be in q u i r e d more p r e c i s e l y . Oki: Just a minute. Why i s she a f r a i d o f the

p r e s e n t from the r e g e n c y ?

I t h in k she stops him as he was f o r b i d d e n by the d o c t o r .

Matsu: She i s r i g h t . I t ' s her d u t y as a nurse t o keep him from any harm.

13

a r e n ' t you Masaoka-dono? Ma s a : Yes, i t s q u i t e r i g h t .

Sakae: Then you s a i d , you are not a f r a i d of t his Masa: Why am I a f r a i d ---- ?

Sakae: Then, you have to p r e s e n t t h i s to by y o u r s e l f .

him

Masa: what do you say?

Sakae: Masa oka, do you p r e s e n t ?

Masa: Oh! I

----Both: Her e , h e re .

Sakae: Masaoka, how about t h i s ?

" A s t h e y s t r u g g l e in h e a r t , Senmatsu comes out

from the next room,"

Sen: Mama, g i v e a p i e c e of cake to me.

"W ith one b i t e , he f a l l s in p a i n . " "When a l l a t once,

Y a s h i o takes him by h is neck, And pushes her dagg er

in h i s r i g h t s i d e . "

( Senmatsu e a t s a cake and pains t e r r i b l y Yashi o, in g r e a t s u r p r i s e ,

takes him and stabs him w i t h her d a g g e r . Masaoka s h i e l d s Tsu ru ch iy o under

her long o v e r - d r e s s . A l l w a i t r e s s p r o t e c t him, t o o .

s t r a i g h t , "

cake ?

14 Oki: Matsu: Ya sh i: Masa: Yashi:

O h ! N o t to ask the t r u t h , Yashio-d ono why do you stab Senmatsu?

Answer me.

" As they p r e s s e d , "

Don’ t be e x c i t e d . You are in the f a c e o f Sakae-sama. Be q u i e t and l i s t e n t o me. He behaved badly with t h i s p r e s e n t from

t h e r e g e n c y . S o I punished him.

I t ' s f o r t he l o r d , as I am f a i t h f u l ----Ha ha ha. Look at him, he h a s n ' t d i e y e t . He moves l i k e t h i s . Oh, you a re p a i n f u l .

I t ’ s q u i t e r i g h t . E ven me, as a woman, f e e l t e a r s what I have done, you must f e e l much more so rrow, I guess.

Do n ’ t mention i t . A s the behaved ba dly f o r h i s l o r d , and brought d i s g r a c e on me, he i s stabed by you f o r the l o r d .

t hen are you not s o r r y t o see him in t h i s s t a t e . Oh! are you?

S e e i n g t h i s ? Y et are you n o t sad? "By t o r t u r e t o death Sematsu groan w i t h pa i n . His moaning sound p i e r c e

through h i s m o t h e r ’ s h e a r t .

But the mother be ars p a t i e n t l y her sorrow b e a r i n g no t e a r s .

Sakae: Y a s h i o : Sakae: Y a s h i o : Sakae: Three: S a kae: Masa: Sakae: 1 5 she s h i e l d s her l o r d s o n l y . Fa i t h f u l M asaoka i s s t o u t - h e a r t e d , And i s t a l k e d f o r e v e r , As a p a t t e r n o f womanhood. Dakae watches her manner and s m il e s s a t i s f a c t l y .

Oh! w e l l done, Y a s h i o . This p r e c i o u s cake fr om the r e g e n c y i s d i s t u r b e d by a c h i l d and

our s e c r e t p l a n --- .

No, p r e c i o u s cake i s d i s t u r b e d , f o r

the f a i l u r e , Ya s h i o punished him, Well done! I thank you f o r your compliment t o t h i s t r i f l e . W e l l , now I want t o t a l k w i t h Masaoka a l o n e , P e a s e l e a v e us a l o n e .

You mean to l e a v e you both a l o n e . Y es , p l e a s e w i t h d r a w .

A11 r i g h t .

"They have no th in g t o say,

Ok i n o i supposes her deep i n t e n t i o n . With Y as hio , she l e a v e s t h e r e . Sa k a e - g o zen l o o k i n g around,"

( Y a s h i o , Ok i n o i , Ma t s u s h i m a r e t i r e s . ) Draw n e ar , Masaoka!

Yes.

You are s a t i s f i e d , f o r your wish i s g r a n t e d , I th i n k .

Masa: Sakae:

Masa:

Sa

k a e : Masa: Sakae: Masa: Sakae: W h a t do you say?

Though I ’ ve heard l a t e l y t h a t you changed your son w i t h l o r d at t h e i r babyhood,

I have a doubt on the rumour. Th e r f o r e I watched you p r e c i s e l y f o r a t im e. N o w I saw

the f a c t w i th my e y e s , f o r you showed no f e e l i n g t o t h i s c h i l d ’ s p a i n .

Even though you are s t o u t - h e a r t e d , you c a n ’ t bear t o see your own c h i l d ’ s pain in such a w a y . Since I saw the f a c t , I w i l l

t e l l you our s e c r e t . Look: a t t h i s . ( Takes out a l i s t o f the p l o t t e r s . Lo ok ing a t i t ,)

Oh! Th i s i s ---Ahe a d o f O n i t s u r a ---The l i s t o f the p l o t t e r s .

I ’ ve t al k ed with Ya s h i o about t h i s . You may ask and a c t w i t h her h e r e a f t e r .

Th e n , do you mean t h i s l i s t ----t o me?

Yes, I l e a v e i t to you. And what w i l l you do?

I w i l l be back now and t e l l about t h i s case ju s t happened.

I w i l l s t a r t r i g h t away. 16

-17 M a s a : Sakae-gozen-sama i s s t a r t i n g ! ( c a l l s ) W a i t r e s s ( t w o ) : Y e s ! We se e. M

a s a : we11, then, Sakae-sama.

S

akae: Masaoka, t ake care of y o u r s e l f s t e a l t h i l y . " S e l f - s a t i s f i e d Saka e s t a r t s

to her home s e r e n e l y . "

(Sa kae-gozen r e t i r e s with her w a i t r e s s ; " Be e i n g l e f t a l o n e , Masaoka,

In d e f e r e n c e to the inner room, S t a r e s at her dead son,

And burst out i n t o t e a r s at l a s t . "

(A f t e r a l i t t l e thought Masaoka l o o k i n g h i m , ) Ma s a : We l l , Senmatsu. W e l l done.

You d ie d j u s t at the r i g h t time,

my baby w e l l done. AS you gave up your l i f e f o r y our l o r d , Sakae-gozen

in sp i t e o f her wickedness b e l i e v e d that you a r e the l o r d h i m s e l f , and t e l l me the p l o t . Both God and Buddha p i t y us f o r our f a i t h , and b l e s s our l o r d . You kept my words and t r i e d the p ois on as I t o l d you a t the

v e r y time of p in c h . You g i v e them a chance to union in these s t a t e s by your l i f e .

18

” I s the fo un d at io n o f the s t a t e s , Hourever I am s o r r y f o r y o u . "

F or your l o r d , you made up your mind,

to d i e . But I unexpected you t o die by such a woman's hand of Danjo' s s i s t e r .

" Be i n g t o r t u r e d t o death b e f o r e my e y e s . No one can understand the he art o f m i n e , "

Now, I r e c a l l the song which he was used to s i ng. " At 7 or 8 y ea r s Old, h e has gone to a mine,

And n e v e r be back f o r a y e a r . " F o r two y e a r s , w a i t e d in v a i n .

But th at Senmatsu in the song might come back a f t e r y e a r s .

But my son Senmatsu, you would n e v e r be back f o r e v e r t o me.

" F o r one thousand y e a r s , or ten thousand y ea r s Would I w a i t , I could have no ne ws .”

A11 the p a r e n t s in the w o r l d have the same h e a r t . They ta k e care o f t h e i r son not t o take the po iso n,

What kind o f mothers can ask t o t h e i r c h i l d t o t r y the p oison?

" Such a c r u e l mother." Can't live.

"Wao i t his happ in es s

19 Masa: Yashi o: Mas a : Yas hi o: Masa: Or was i t unluck y ---?

" P i t i f u l i t i s ! I t i s b e l i e v e d The death means the f a i t h ,

From what day they we r e accustomed to In s p i t e o f her p a t i e n t h e a r t ,

She comes back h e r s e l f , . And burst out i n t o t e a r s

"Wi t h her son’ s dead body in her hands, I t ' s q u i t e r i g h t t o h e r.

You, Ma s a k o !

( Ya s h i o , wi t h her da g ger t r i e s t o s t a b at Masaoka.)

Wnat do you want to do? With me? I understand you in w h o l e .

You should d i e , too .

What a cheeky t h i n g you s a i d !

M asaoka st a bs at Ya s h i o . Yashio a v o i d s , but r e c e i v e s a c u t . Masaoka drops the l i s t . Wi t h mys t e r i o u s music a b i g r a t runs

out, and soon d i s a p p e a r s with the l i s t . Okinoi, Matsushima and w a i t r e s s come out o f inner room.)

2 0

-Oki : Al a s ! the l i s t f o r i n q u i r e ---Ma t s u : The r a t b i t e a n d

----A l l : Look t h e r e ! L o o k !

O k i : You a r e f e m a l e but a member o f p l o t t e r ! Ma s a : My b a b y ' s fo e!

Matsu: and L o r d ' s enemy! Ma s a : God's judgement i s , Masa: ( f o r w a r d s a s t e p ) ( F i r s t wooden c l a p p e r . ) Now, on you. ( S coops Y a s h i o . Ya s h i o s u f f e r s in pa i n .