        Monbusho Bulletin No. 161 (Dec. 26th, 1995) 文部省告示第１６１号(平成７年１２月２６日) Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Authorized by Japanese Government 国指定重要無形民俗文化財 The Sketch of Yamanokuchi Ｂｕｎｙａｂｕｓｈｉ Ningyojoruri 山之口麓文弥節人形浄瑠璃点描 Opening : Musume Teodori ‘Oisemairi’ Shusse Kagekiyo Kadode Yashima Intermission Farces Introduction Ningyojoruri is a puppet play combined with Joruri (narration) and Shamisen. The type of Yamanokuchi Fumoto is known as Bunyabushi Ningyojoruri.Bunya is Bunya Okamoto who created Bunyabushi.(Bushi means the tune of the Joruri narration.) It was very popular in Dotonbori,Osaka around the 17th century. It is said that some followers of the Lord Shimazu learned it in Osaka during their Trip of Sankinkotai (the feudal Lord had to go to Edo with many followers to do their duties for the Shogun) and familiarized it at their home land when they came back. We have an old script of Shusse Kagekiyo copied in 1826.And on the reverse of the cover we see some comments written by the person who copied the scenario. It reveals that there was a very good narrator called Sogi, who was an official at the checkpoint of Fumoto and loved Ningyojoruri very much.He presented Ningyojoruri and pleased the people very well. One day he asked his fellow official to copy the scenario of Shusse Kagekiyo very earnestly. So he accepted it though he was not so confident. Therefore we can confirm that our Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri has been succeeded here since the Edo Era (1600～1867) through the Meiji,Taisho and Showa Era. Including the tune of narration,the style of Yamanokuchi Ningyoujoruri is called Ko (old) Joruri which is different from the one of Bunraku in some ways. (See the Leaflet ‘Puppet Theater’) We have 27 puppets at the theater.Some were made in the Edo Era and others were made in the Meiji and Taisho Era. During the time of W.W.2we couldn't concentrate our efforts on Ningyojoruri. Six years after the end of the War, we made a new association of Yamanokuchi Fumoto Ningyojoruri and made many efforts to revive our tradition. Our Puppet Theater Museum was built in 1992.We hold 4 regular presentations a year. In 1994 we opened the Children's Ningyojoruri Club of Fumoto Elementary School to bring up the successors of our brilliant tradition. And in 1995 our Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri was authorized by the Japanese Government as a Culturally Important Intangible Folk Property. Opening : Sambaso has been used as an opening presentation at various events in Japan for years. But now here in Yamanokuchi Fumoto we present Musume Teodori ‘Oisemairi’instead of Sambaso. Musume Teodori is a girls' dance and the song of which shows the scenes of Sankinkotai,the feudal Lord's business trip to do their duties in Edo(Tokyo)under the control of the Shogun. Shusse Kagekiyo & Kadode Yashima were both written by Monzaemon Chikamatsu in the early Edo Era.They are our 2 main numbers of Yamanokuchi Fumoto Ningyojoruri. Intermission Farces : Tarono Gozemuke, Higashidakeno Inoshishigari, Umadorobo Yaemon. They are all narrated in the dialect of Yamanokuchi area. Shusse Kagekiyo 出世景清 Shusse means success. But in the case of Kagekiyo it is an abnormal success.Kagekiyo had a great will power,which he tried to realize many times, but he failed. Act 1 Ｔhe Construction of the Giant Buddha's Pantheon (Chunotate) 初段 大仏殿普請の段 （ちゅのたて） Reg. Presentation in March 三月公演 Act 2 The Mistress Akoya's House (Tsukuribun) 二段 阿古屋住家の段 （つくりぶん） Reg. Presentation in March 三月公演 Act 3 Torturing Ononohime (Mizuzeme Hizeme) 三段 拷問の段 （水責め火責め） Reg. Presentation in Ｊｕｎｅ 六月公演 Act 4 The Priｓon （Zuyanba) 四段 牢舎の段 （ずやんば） Reg. Presentation in Ｊｕｎｅ 六月公演 NB: ( ) is the dialectal expression. Act 1 The Construction of the Giant Buddha's Pantheon (Chunotate) (Chunotate means the Houseraising) The War between the Genji Clan and the Heike Clan was over in 1185. The Heike Clan was completely defeated. Shrine in Owarinokuni (Nagoya City). The chief priest of Atsuta Shrine was a special friend of the Heike Clan. During his stay there, Kagekiyo had fallen in love with Ononohime,the daughter of the chief priest,and got married to her. But he couldn't bear the humiliation of the defeat. One day Kagekiyo got the news that Minamotono Yoritomo,the supreme commander of the Genji Clan,had appointed his follower Shigetada Hatakeyama to be the boss of the Reconstruction Bureau of the Giant Buddha's Pantheon of Todaiji Temple (which was going to be built in Nanto,Nara).In fact,Shigetada had been the right-hand man of Yoritomo. Then Kagekiyo decided to kill Shigetada first before his revenge upon his hateful enemy Yoritomo. So Kagekiyo dressed up like a laborer and went into the construction spot of Nanto. Kagekiyo got a chance and tried to kill Shigetada but his plan failed. So he had to fight against many enemies. After the big fight he barely escaped from the enemies. Act 2 The Mistress Akoya's House (Tsukuribun) (Tsukuribun means the False Letter) Kagekiyo went to Akoya's house in Kyoto and hid himself there for a while after running away from Shigetada. Akoya was the mistress of Kagekiyo.They met each other in Kyoto before and had two little sons, Iyaishi (6 years old) and Iyawaka (4 years old). Akoya and her two sons were very happy to be with Kagekiyo again,though she knew Kagekiyo had married Ononohime. But unfortunately Ibano Juzo,Akoya's brother,noticed that Kagekiyo was hiding at Akoya's house.Juzo plotted to get the prize by informing the Shogunate of Kagekiyo's hiding place. Juzo tried to tempt Akoya to inform the Shogunate of Kagekiyo's whereabouts but Akoya refused.And she didn't allow Juzo to do it by himself.So Juzo plotted out another trick. He made up a false letter which was from Ononohime to Kagekiyo. When the false letter was delivered to Akoya's house,Juzo appeared there and said to the mailman, “OK. OK.I'll get the letter and give it to Kagekiyo later. Because he has gone to Kiyomizudera Temple to pray.Don't worry. You can go back now.” After the mailman left, Akoya was terribly shocked to read the letter.It was a love letter from Ononohime to Kagekiyo.And Ononohime slandered Akoya a‘playgirl’ in the letter. Akoya didn't realize that it was a false letter made by Juzo.Then Juzo said to Akoya, “Let's go and turnKagekiyo into the police.” Akoya loved Kagekiyo so much but her heart waved and hesitated very hard and she was so jealous that at last she had lost her heart and couldn't stop Juzo from going to the Rokuhara Police Office. Many policemen flooded Kiyomizudera Temple to arrest Kagekiyo. Kagekiyo and the policemen fought violently. But fortunately he managed to escape again. Act 3 Torturing (Mizuzeme Hizeme) (Mizuzeme means the Water Cure and Hizeme means the Stake) The police couldn't find Kagekiyo.So they caught the chief priest of Atsuta Shrine,who was Ononohime's father,and brought him to the prison in Kyoto. Ononohime was very sad, so she decided to go see and try to save her father.She took a long trip from Nagoya to Kyoto to see her father. While Ononohime was looking for the prison where her father was arrested in Kyoto,she was unfortunately found by the policeman Genta Kajiwara and she was also arrested.Kajiwara said to Ononohime,“Your father tells me nothing. But you are the wife of Kagekiyo. So you must know where he is.” And then he brought Ononohime to Rokujogawara which was the execution ground located at Kamogawa River side in Kyoto and tortured her by water cure.But Ononohime told him nothing. Next,Kobokuzeme.Zeme means torture. Koboku is a big old tree where one would wind the neck of the criminal with a rope and hang it down from the bough of a tree. Kajiwara lowered the rope when the criminal was about to die and pulled up the rope when the criminal came back to life.But still Ononohime never confessed. Lastly, Kajiwara ordered his men to punish Ononohime by Hizeme (Fire torture). They laid wood on the ground, took the fans and then ignited the wood. When they were just about to begin the torture,Kagekiyo appeared slashing his way through the visiting crowds and cried out,“I am Kagekiyo.” He could never bear the pains of Ononohime and her father,so he was arrested without any resistance. Bursting into tears, Ononohime cried out to Kagekiyo, “Why did you come here? I never wanted you to be arrested but to finish your will.” Kagekiyo also cried and said to Ononohime, “You should continue to live to take care of your father and pray for the repose of me after my death”. He roped himself and stepped up to Kajiwara.Then Ononohime ran up to Kagekiyo and clinged to him but she was immediately separated from Kagekiyo. Kagekiyo was taken to the prison but Ononohime and her father were released. Act 4 The Priｓon （Zuyanba) （Zuyanba means the Prison） The Mistress Akoya got the news that Kagekiyo was arrested and taken to prison.She knew she was deceived by that false letter which was sent by her brother Juzo. She was so much regrettable to betray Kagekiyo with her jealousy against Ononohime.She wanted to apologize to Kagekiyo so much that she went to see him taking her two little sons together.They were barely allowed to see Kagekiyo and taken to the prison where Kagekiyo was held. Akoya cried out to see Kagekiyo's miserable prison conditions.She apologized to Kagekiyo for her betrayal. Kagekiyo was so angry about Akoya's betrayal that he refused to forgive her.Iyaishi, just a 6 year-old-boy, tried to move the door of the prison crying “I'll break this prison to save my father.” Iyawaka, a 4-year-old boy,put his little hands in between the fence of the prison and gently rubbed his father's feet which seemed to have been injured by the torture and said,“You might feel pain in your feet, Dad. Does it hurt very much?” Kagekiyo was so moved to see his sons' state that he couldn't bear to cry. But he thought that he would be killed soon anyway and it would be no good for his sons to be concerned with him.So just then Kagekiyo thought he should decide to cut off ‘the emotion of parent and children’. Pressing down his tears and emotion,Kagekiyo said to his sons,“Don't think I'm your father from now on.I'll never consider you to be my sons.Because you are the children of that woman who betrayed me as you see. Go back now.”After saying that,Kagekiyo pushed his sons away and he also said to Akoya,“You aren't my lover any longer.Go back with your sons now and never come and see me again.” Looking at this,Akoya was so shocked and said to Kagekiyo,“Surely I betrayed you, I was wrong. But,why are you so cruel to your children ?They had done nothing sinful against you. I can't live any more.” Suddenly Akoya pulled out a dagger and stabbed her two sons to death.And she also stabbed herself to death.Kagekiyo was so shocked to watch that awful scene and grieved so deeply. At that time, Akoya's brother Juzo came there and accused Kagekiyo so terribly that Kagekiyo couldn't keep his patience. He destroyed the prison and killed Juzo. Kagekiyo thought he should run away, so he left there at once. He tried to find his way to Kanto (Tokyo and other prefectures around it)and Saigoku (Western region from Osaka,especially Kyushu).But Kagekiyo stopped after running only a few minutes. He realized that Ononohime and her father would be arrested again and tortured as long as he wasn't in prison. So Kagekiyo came back to the prison and entered it. Then he locked the door from the inside and roped himself,and began to recite the Kannongyo in his casual appearance.That scene made the people around him believe Kagekiyo had become the Bodhisattva (secondary Buddha) as he was alive. (Kannon is a God of mercy. “gyo” and “kyo” means Sutra) Kadode Yashima 門出八嶋 Kadode means departure, that departure to the front for the Sato brothers. This story shows us the details from their encounter with Yoshitsune until the Yashima war. Act 1 The Departure to the Front (Ugganmei) 初段 出陣の段 （うっがんめい） Reg. Presentation in Sep. 九月公演 Act 2 The Yashima War (Ikusanba) 二段 八嶋合戦の段 （いくさんば） Reg. Presentation in Sep. 九月公演 Act 2 The Yashima War (Benkeino Dangiri) 二段 八嶋合戦の段 （弁慶の段切り） Reg. Presentation in Nov. 十一月公演 Act 3 The Yashima Beach （Chochintoboshi) 三段 八嶋の浦の段 （提灯とぼし） Reg. Presentation in Nov. 十一月公演 Act 1 The Departure to the Front (Ugganmei) (Uggan is Ujigami,the Family God. Mei is Mairi,Visiting and Praying.) Minamotono Yoshitsune was given the order to be the Supreme Commander of the army of the Genji Clan to attack the army of the Heike Clan by the Shogun,Minamotono Yoritomo. Yoritomo was Yoshitsune's elder brother.Yoshitsune was so pleased with this good news that he decided to start to attack the Heike Clan at once. But it was sad for him to leave Hiraizumi, which was a good place for him to live and where he learned many things to grow up to be a great general And Hidehira Fujiwara,a good supporter of Yoshitsune,helped him very kindly.Hidehira was the Great Lord of the nothern part of Japan during the end of the Heian Era. When Yoshitsune was going to leave Hidehira's mansion in Hiraizumi,he met 2 young brothers who were very brave Samurais.The elder brother was Tsugunobu Sato,and the younger one was Tadanobu Sato.Yoshitsune wanted to get them as his followers.But their father,Shoji Sato wanted one of his sons to stay near to him. On the contrary, both of his sons so eagerly wanted to be followers that it was very difficult to select one of them. So they tried to think of good ideas everyday. Tadanobu knew that his elder brother Tsugunobu had a girlfriend Hayahime. Hayahime was a sister of Shidano Saburo.Shidano Saburo was a masterless Samurai, who never wanted to have a master.So he introduced the brothers to Yoshitsune when he was asked to be a follower before. Tadanobu had an idea. He visited Hayahime and told her that her boyfriend Tsugunobu was eagerly going to enter the battle deserting his girlfriend Hayahime.And he also said that Tsugunobu would create a lie that he had died in the battle and therefore would have another lover soon. And moreover he said Hayahime should meet Tsugunobu at once to keep him close to her and Tadanobu would go to the battle instead of Tsugunobu. Hayahime was quite shocked to hear this and asked Tadanobu to take her to Tsugunobu. Aroundt he same time Tsugunobu was praying at his Family God Shrine to give him a good chance to enter the battle as the follower of Yoshitsune. While Tsugunobu was praying to the God, he heard a voice calling him. It was Ikuyo, the girlfriend of Tadanobu. She was a daughter of the chief priest of Sato's Family God Shrine. She knew that her boyfriend Tadanobu wanted to follow Yoshitsune very eagerly. So Ikuyo asked Tsugunobu to persuade Tadanobu not to go to the battle. Tsugunobu said, “It's too difficult for me to stop Tadanobu.Because he is too obstinate to listen to the other's opinions.So you should cling to him and cry heavily.” Suddenly Tadanobu and Hayahime appeared.Both of the girls tried to have theirb sweethearts give up going to the battle, crying and clinging so hard to each man. But the brothers didn't accept the women's begging. At last Tsugunobu and Tadanobu began to quarrel very hard.Tsugunobu said, “You are younger than I !. So you should stay here !”Tadanobu said,“No! You should stay here ! It's your duty to take care of your father and succeed our patrimony. Because you are the eldest child in our family.” They didn't stop their quarreling. Then their father Shoji Sato appeared with Shidano Saburo and other Samurais following Yoshitsune. Shoji was very shocked to see the terrible quarreling of his 2 sons and the crying of his sons' girlfriends. Shoji understood that his sons were eager to become the followers of Yoshitsune.And he thought it was not good to hold back one of them to stay with him.So he decided to give permissions to both of them to be the followers of Yoshitsune. Plus he allowed them to get married to their sweethearts. The 2 couples were extremely happy. Shoji said to his sons,“You should keep being royal to your master Yoshitsune.Be brave to fight against the enemies and keep helping each other. Don't leave your brother alone. You should understand this is my last advice for you and this is our last meeting.” All of the people around them were very moved and started to cry. Then Anzaino Danjo suddenly appeared to tell the news that the Heike Clan had started to prepare for he battle against the Genji Clan. And he said to Yoshitsune,“You should go to the front as soon as you can.” Yoshitsune answered,“All right, I understand.Now,Danjo,these are my new followers, Tsugunobu Sato and his younger brother Tadanobu Sato.You should cooperate with them and lead this battle to success.” Danjo didn't like that.So he said, “Increasing the numbers of soldiers is not so important for the battle, whereas the spirit of the fighting is the most important.” And he said to the brothers, “I hear you have never been to the front.If you fail,you'll bring shame to your master.” “Oh, that's OK.” said Tsugunobu.“We are really the freshmen of the battlefield.So we'll follow you, the Commander, Danjo.But we think the achievements will depend on the conditions of the battle.So you don't have to worry about us.” Danjo said, “All right.I understand.I am the Commander.So you shouldn't jump to any conclusions.You should just follow my orders to stay alive.” Tadanobu couldn't endure Danjo's insulting comments.He said,“OK.Danjo.I admit you are our Commander. We'll obey your orders.So before going to the front you should show us how to fight against the enemies.” After saying that Tadanobu pulled out his sword and pointed it at Danjo. Danjo also pulled out his sword.Then Shidano Saburo intervened and said,“Stop.Stop.Calm yourselves. I understand your deep royal spirits very well.So you shouldn't waste your powers by this kind of useless quarreling.” They then stopped struggling. Yoshitsune said,“Yes.This is my honorable war.You should cooperate with each other and make efforts to ensure our victory.” Act 2 The Yashima War (Ikusanba) (Ikusanba means the Battlefield) After winning the big battle against the Heike Army at the Ichinotani Coast of Kobe City in Hyogo Pref. Yoshitsune had got his new camp at Yashima Island of Takamatsu City in Kagawa Pref. in early 1185. Yoshitsune was preparing for his second big sea fight against the Heike Fleet. Kotaro and Kojiro Shinobu were going to visit Tsugunobu and Tadanobu in Yoshitsune's camp. But it was very difficult for them to find the way Because there were many big camps of the Commanders of the Genji Clan around the Yashima Island. When they were looking for the camp of the Sato brothers,they met a young man and his sister who were selling straw shoes.His name was Washiono Saburo.He was a very poor hunter. But he knew the camps of all the Commanders of the Genji Clan very well. So the Shinobu brothers asked Washio to take them to the camp of the Sato brothers. Washio and his sister took them to the camp very easily. On the way to the camp,Washio'sister said to the Shinobu brothers,“We are the children of the old hunter Washio living around here.But on account of the recent successive wars we can't keep hunting. But we have to support our old parents.So we are selling these straw shoes. But we can't earn enough money,so I wish my brother could be a follower of the great Lord Yoshitsune.I beg you to introduce my brother to the Lord.” Kotaro and Kojiro Shinobu were very important messengers to deliver the presents from Shoji Sato to his sons, the Sato brothers. The presents were 2 different new armors for each of them.The Shinobu brothers were very thankful to Washio because they could finish their dutyvery easily because of the help from Washio.And they knew Yoshitsune's army needed good followers.So they accepted Washio andhis sister's request and took them to Tsugunobu's camp. Tsugunobu met Washiono Saburo and his sister and was quite moved to hear his earnest wish to become a follower of Yoshitsune. So Tsugunobu took Washio to the headquaters of the Yoshitsune Army. Before introducing Washiono Saburo to Yoshitsune,Tsugunobu took off his new armor which his father sent to him and had Washio wear it. Yoshitsune asked Tsugunobu,“Who is that young man?”Tsugunobu said,“He is my brother. ”Yoshitsune said, “Ｗｈｙ？I know you have only one brother Tadanobu.” Tsugunobu said,“Yes,my Lord.As a matter of fact, he is a hunter around here. And he said he was quite eager to be your follower and he would be pleased to make a sacrifice at anytime for you.And moreover,his sister begged so much to me that I recommend him to you.I was somoved and trusted him that I have decided to be his brother-in-law.” Yoshitsune was so moved to hear this and employed Washio as his follower. Then again that irritable Anzaino Danjo stepped in saying “Hey, Tsugunobu, you have a good brother.He is a straw shoes seller. I'll order one. That should be a strong one enough to be used for a long distance such as 100 Ri (240 miles) or 200 Ri for the battle field.” Tsugunobu was offended by this, but controled himself and said, “O.K. I understand you. You might need strongstraw shoes , strong enough to sustain your running back home a long way when you are frightened of the enemies' attacks.” Danjo said again,“Anyway,I have strong feet.So you should make good shoes to fit to my strong feet.” After saying that Danjo pushed his one foot out toward Tsugunobu.Tsugunobu said,“Oh, what nice feet you have.You can run away as far as Tenjiku (India). Now I' ll cut off your feet and put them into the mold for the shoes.” Then Tsugunobu pulled out his sword. Of course Danjo also pulled out his sword. Benkei,Hatakeyama and other followers tried to stop them but it was very hard.Just then one of the enemies'boats came near the coast of Yashima.Soon the boat stopped and one of the crew stood up. It was the famous General of the Heike Clan,Notonokami Noritsune.Noritsune shouted, “My name is Notonokami Noritsune, the General of our Heike Clan.Hey,General Yoshitsune, receive my arrow in honor of our meeting at this battle.” Yoshitsune also shouted to Noritsune, “Oh, you are the General Noritsune. I know you are very famous for your powerful bow shooting. OK,let me receive your arrow on my breast.”He pointed to his breast on his armor after saying that. All the people on both sides around there were terribly wondering what was going on. Just then Tsugunobu stepped out before Yoshitsune to guard his master.Tsugunobu said,“My name is Tsugunobu Sato.I want to know how your bow shoots fast. I don't mind, even if I fail. Because I've already dedicated my life to my master.Now,come on,Noritsune.” Noritsune was deeply moved and hesitated a little. But his follower Kikuo urged to shoot him. So Noritsune raised up his bow and arrow again. He aimed at Tsugunobu and shooted. The arrow hit the breast of Tsugunobu.The brave soldier tried to give his return arrow to Noritsune.But he fell down from his horse. Kikuo tried to get off the boat to take the head of Tsugunobu.Looking at this,Tadanobu, Tsugunobu's brother shot at Kikuo.The arrow hit his knee and he fell down into the sea. Noritsune jumped off the boat into the sea and grasped the waist belt of Kikuo and threw him into the bottom of the boat.From that shock Kikuo died. At the same time all the soldiers of the both sides began to fight each other. Act 2 The Yashima War (Benkeino Dangiri) (The wonderful swordplay of Benkei and the termination brought by him.) The strong man,Benkei moved very actively in this battle.He was the right-hand man of Yoshitsune.On account of his great movements the Genji Clan was victorious.Actually he was the man that terminated the Yashima War. Benkei cut down many enemies. He gathered more than 20 of their heads and tied them up with a rope intoa string.It was like a rosary.Benkei wanted to use it for praying to the dead. Looking at this, the soldiers of the Heike Clan were so scared that they all jumped into their boats and ran away. Benkei recited, “Namuamidabutsu.Namuamidabutsu.” And he went back to the headquarters of Yoshitsune Army. Act 3 The Yashima Beach （Chochintoboshi) (Chochin is a paper lantern. Toboshi means lighting.) The battle was over and it was getting dark around Yashima Island.Yoshitsune was so worried about missing Tsugunobu who was shot by Noritsune. Yoshitsune told Tadanobu to look for Tsugunobu.Tadanobu was very tired but he tried hard to find his brother all over the beach of Yashima Island calling,“Tsugunobu!Tsugunobu! Where are you?Answer me, please!” Kotaro and Kojiro Shinobu also followedTadanobu.There was a vague voice in the dark. Tadanobu thought it was Tsugunobu. But when he approached it, he saw some plovers fly up. He heard other voices, but they were the echoes of the calling of Shinobu brothers. Tadanobu became more and more tired.He got no answer or no reaction.He sat down and sobbed. He barely continued to walk and call, when he came to an old wrecked boat,where he heard a faint voice.“ Is thatyou Tadanobu ?”Tadanobu jumped up and dashed toward the voice.At last he found Tsugunobu lying on his face by the wrecked boat. Tadanobu raised Tsugunobu in his arms.Tadanobu asked him how was his hurt.But Tsugunobu who was almost dead didn't say anything about himself but only asked how General Yoshitsune was,how Tadanobu was and how the result of the battle went. Tadanobu said, “We were victorious. And my Lord told me to take you to him.” Tsugunobu said, “Oh, that's nice ! I'd like to see my Lord before I die.Take me to him.” At that time the Shinobu brothers also ran up there They layed Tsugunobu on a stretcher Tsugunobu died in peace in the arms of Yoshitsune. made from a broken door and took him to their Lord Yoshitsune. Intermission Farces 間狂言 Tarono Gozemeke(Taro's Wedding) 太郎の御前迎（たろうのごぜむけ） Reg.Presenteation in Ju. & Nov. Taro was a slow man and he had a big head. He had longed to marry a beautiful woman. His friend Yazo was a short man and he always meddled with others' affairs. So Yazo said to Taro,“I know a girl in this village who is famous for her beauty among all others.Her name is Takasagobaba (“baba” means sister). If you want to meet her, I will take you to her. Taro was very glad to hear that and said, “For a short man, you are very clever.” Taro followed Yazo very pleasantly. Yazo entered Takasagobaba's poor house leaving Taro outside. Yazo said to Takasagobaba,“My name is Yazo.I have brought a friend,named Taro to meet you. He wants to meet you very much and he wants to get married to you if you agree with him. Taro is very famous for his good personality among his neighbors. I sincerely recommend Taro to you as a husband.” Takasagobaba was very glad to hear that and told Yazo to introduce her to Taro. Yazo called Taro and told him that Takasagobaba wanted to meet him. As a matter of fact Takasagobaba was never a beautiful sister. But she believed she was a beauty. Takasagobaba was surprised to see aro's big head and his slow nature.She said to Yazo,“I'm so famous for my beauty around here.Do you really think he is a good match for me? He looks a little funny.” Yazo said,“Oh,you should give him a chance.He is a nice person.I bet he matches with you perfectly.He will love you faithfully.” Takasagobaba was convinced by Yazo's recommendation.So she accepted Taro's proposal. Soon Yazo pushed forward their wedding ceremony.Taro and Takasagobaba exchanged their‘Sansankudo’cups very peacefully.They also enjoyed their wedding party very much. (‘Sansankudo’is a Japanese traditional wedding ceremony in whichcouples exchange sake cups.) Higashidakeno Inoshishigari |
I had the honorable chance to make the English edition guide of Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri. Mrs.Renjo,the chief of the concerned dept.told me to do that when I began to work as a clerk at Yamanokuchi Puppet Theater Museum in April of 2006. I was very pleased to accept the work. But I had to learn much about Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri before doing that.And I needed the help of some experts. Tadao Shiozuru who had been the president of the HistoricalResearch Association of Miyakonojo City gave me his book ‘ Furusatono Rekishi ’and some advice to understand Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri. Sumiaki Muraoka,the 10th narration actor and the 4th Chairman of Yamanokuchi Ningyojoruri Association was kind enough to lend me the scripts of Ningyojoruri written in old Japanese. Hiroaki Yamashita is not only a good narrator of the puppet play but an excellent historian whom I always ask questions regarding the history of Ningyojoruri and Yamanokuchi town. They were quite important people for me to do this special work. I owe a lot to them. I'd like to say thank you very much to all of these people. September 10, '06 Tairiku Kawasoe |
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