2021/12/08 11:57 TERAKOYA

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Key words Gidayû Kyôgen

Giri/Ninjô
Heian Jidai
Jidaimono
Kan Shôjô
Kiri
Kubi Jikken
Migawarimono
Ôchômono
Ôdaimono
Ôtoshi
Seriu

Summary Kan Shôjô's only son, Kan Shûsai, has been in Seriu village under the shelter
of
Genzô who was once one of the loyal retainers of Kan Shôjô. Kan Shôjô has
been trapped and
banished to a far province in Kyûshû. One day Genzô is
called before the chief magistrate
of the village and ordered to kill Kan Shûsai
and bring his head to the authorities. He comes
home with a sad look and tries
to find a proper child in his school who can be killed
in place of Kan Shûsai.
Then Genzô's wife Tonami appears and reveals that a short time
ago a noble
woman like a warriors's wife came to ask for permission for her son's
enrollment to the school. Kotarô is the son's name. Genzô makes up his mind
to kill him
instead of Kan Shûsai thinking he is noble enough to meet Kan
Shûsai. He confesses this to
his wife. He feels deeply sorry for Kotarô, but he
can't overcome his great obligation to Kan Shôjô.

In the meantime Genba comes to the school with his men to ascertain whether
Genzô did his duty.
Genba is a vassal of Shihei, who set the trap and landed
Kan Shôjô in a difficult situation.
With Genba is Matsuômaru. He follows in a
palanquin, for he must make it known that he is ill.
He has come to make
certain that it is Kan Shûsai's head, since he was once a guardsman of Kan
Shôjô.
The boys of the school are called out one by one, scrutinized by
Matsuômaru and Genba, and released.
Genba questions Tonami suspiciously
about the number of students. There seems to be one desk too many.
Kotarô's
new desk still stands in the room. Tonami readily admits that it is Kan
Shûsai's.
Matsuômaru recognizes it and knows secretly that his son, Kotarô is
in the school. Genba gives
Genzô an empty head box, bidding him delay no
longer. Genzô takes the box up and goes into the
inner room. When a sound
comes from the inner room, which means his son is killed, Matsuômaru can be
seen
to shudder quietly, but he quickly controls himself. Genzô returns with
the box and sets it before
Matsuômaru for inspection. Genzô kneels down and
watches the inspector intently with his hand
on his sword hilt. If Matsuômaru
sems to deny that the head is Kan Shûsai's, Genzô intends
to cut him down
instantly. Genba's guards close in on Genzô with their weapons drawn, ready
to kill him if
he has attempted a fraud. Matsuômaru himself is not certain what
he will find in the box.
He slowly lifts the cover off the box. When Kotarô's
head is revealed, he gazes upon it and
says in a firm voice:"This is indeed the
head of Kan Shûsai. There is no mistake". After this, Genba
and his men leave
along with Matsuômaru. Genzô and his wife then call Kan Shûsai from his
hidding place
and weep with relief that he is alive.

In the meantime, Matsuômaru's wife and Kotarô's mother Chiyo

is seen
approaching the gate. She calls "my dear son Kotarô, Kotarô, Kotarô!". Genzô,
in desperation, tries
to kill her. Chiyo barely escapes the sword blows and
shows him a shroud of a little boy and flag which
reads "Lord have mercy upon
me". Genzô stands back and is dumbfounded. He asks "whose child was this?".
Matsuômaru appears saying "My son! my son, Kotarô died gloriously and
usefully". He explains the details
of the matter. Even after becoming a follower
of Shihei, Matsuômaru has wanted to repay his ex-master
Kan Shôjô's
kindness to him. Finally on this day he happened to know Genzô's predicament
and was able
to persuade his wife to sacrifice their son for Kan Shûsai. When
he asks Genzô whether Kotarô dies
worthily, Genzô answers "Honorably ...
When I told him he must die, he smiled". Matsuômaru and his wife
weep in
sadness and joy to hear that (ôtoshi). Matsuômaru takes heart and summons
his palaquin. From it steps
Sonoo-no-Mae, Kan Shôjô's wife and Kan Shûsai's
mother. Kan Shûsai comes in. Mother and Son comfort each other.
They light a
sacred fire to honor Kotarô's soul.
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