Iwashi Uri Koi No Hikiami (鰯賣戀引網 The Sardine Seller's Net of Love) is a 1954 comedic Kabuki play by Yukio Mishima (三島 由紀夫).[1] It was first performed in November 1954 at the Kabukiza theatre in Tokyo, and was praised for its "refreshing originality".[2]
Plotedit
The sardine-seller, Sarugenji (猿源氏) has fallen in love with an upper-class courtesan known as "Hotarubi". However, due to his lowly social position it seems as if he has no hope of ever encountering her. Due to a fortunate meeting of chance with his father, Ebina Namidabutsu, and his horse-seller friend, Bakurourokurouzaemon, Sarugenji is able to devise a plan to pose as the samurai "Utsunomiya" in order to enter the pleasure quarter and woo Hotarubi. The trio then encounter difficulty getting Sarugenji to mount Bakurourokurouzaemon's three-legged horse.
Meanwhile, the courtesans of the pleasure house, including Hotarubi, are occupied playing a game involving matching poetry on shells, as they notice a strange-looking gardener. They are interrupted by the arrival of Ebina from the Hanamichi. He informs the owner of the premises, Teishu, of the impending arrival of "Lord Utsunomiya". Upon Sarugenji's arrival in his samurai guise, he encounters difficulty from the courtesans, each teasing him by pretending to be Hotarubi. After the entrance of the true Hotarubi, the courtesans demand a story of bravery from "Lord Utsunomiya". Sarugenji tells them a story dominated by fish puns and then passes out upon Hotarubi's lap from too much sake as the rest of the courtesans leave the stage.
Sarugenji proceeds to sleep-talk about sardines. Upon his waking, he is questioned by Hotarubi, and claims his sardine seller's cry is actually a poem. Hotarubi then confesses that she is truly a princess who ran away from home to chase the cry of a sardine seller that she had fallen in love with. Just as she is about to attempt suicide, Sarugenji (with the aid of Ebina and Bakurourokurouzaemon) manages to convince her that he is actually the sardine seller she has been looking for. Just as Sarugenji declares that he will marry her, Teishu reminds them that he is owed 200 ryō as Hotarubi's ransom.
Suddenly, the strange gardener from earlier arrives on stage, holding captive Sarugenji's "retainers". It seems that he is actually Jirota, a samurai in the service of Hotarubi's parents, come to pay her ransom. Hotarubi orders that he give 200 Ryō to Teishu for her ransom, fifty ryō to Bakurourokurouzaemon for the horse, and that he delivers a message to her parents. Failing in his duty to rescue her, Jirota attempts seppuku, but his sword is seemingly too rusty for it to work. The play ends happily as Sarugenji and Hotarubi exit via the Hanamichi to get married.[1]
The Australian National University's Za Kabuki performed the play in 2002, 2006, and 2011. The 2006 performance was accompanied by an original orchestral score.[3]
Ginza's Kabuki-za performed it in October 2014.[4]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami". Retrieved June 25, 2018.
^ abSasaguchi, Rei (10 September 2010). "From scorn to love: Mishima and bunraku". Retrieved June 25, 2018.
^"ANU Za Kabuki Performance". billboard.anu.edu.au. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
iwashi, hikiami, iwashi, hikiami, 鰯賣戀引網, sardine, seller, love, 1954, comedic, kabuki, play, yukio, mishima, 三島, 由紀夫, first, performed, november, 1954, kabukiza, theatre, tokyo, praised, refreshing, originality, plot, editthe, sardine, seller, sarugenji, 猿源氏, . Iwashi Uri Koi No Hikiami 鰯賣戀引網 The Sardine Seller s Net of Love is a 1954 comedic Kabuki play by Yukio Mishima 三島 由紀夫 1 It was first performed in November 1954 at the Kabukiza theatre in Tokyo and was praised for its refreshing originality 2 Plot editThe sardine seller Sarugenji 猿源氏 has fallen in love with an upper class courtesan known as Hotarubi However due to his lowly social position it seems as if he has no hope of ever encountering her Due to a fortunate meeting of chance with his father Ebina Namidabutsu and his horse seller friend Bakurourokurouzaemon Sarugenji is able to devise a plan to pose as the samurai Utsunomiya in order to enter the pleasure quarter and woo Hotarubi The trio then encounter difficulty getting Sarugenji to mount Bakurourokurouzaemon s three legged horse Meanwhile the courtesans of the pleasure house including Hotarubi are occupied playing a game involving matching poetry on shells as they notice a strange looking gardener They are interrupted by the arrival of Ebina from the Hanamichi He informs the owner of the premises Teishu of the impending arrival of Lord Utsunomiya Upon Sarugenji s arrival in his samurai guise he encounters difficulty from the courtesans each teasing him by pretending to be Hotarubi After the entrance of the true Hotarubi the courtesans demand a story of bravery from Lord Utsunomiya Sarugenji tells them a story dominated by fish puns and then passes out upon Hotarubi s lap from too much sake as the rest of the courtesans leave the stage Sarugenji proceeds to sleep talk about sardines Upon his waking he is questioned by Hotarubi and claims his sardine seller s cry is actually a poem Hotarubi then confesses that she is truly a princess who ran away from home to chase the cry of a sardine seller that she had fallen in love with Just as she is about to attempt suicide Sarugenji with the aid of Ebina and Bakurourokurouzaemon manages to convince her that he is actually the sardine seller she has been looking for Just as Sarugenji declares that he will marry her Teishu reminds them that he is owed 200 ryō as Hotarubi s ransom Suddenly the strange gardener from earlier arrives on stage holding captive Sarugenji s retainers It seems that he is actually Jirota a samurai in the service of Hotarubi s parents come to pay her ransom Hotarubi orders that he give 200 Ryō to Teishu for her ransom fifty ryō to Bakurourokurouzaemon for the horse and that he delivers a message to her parents Failing in his duty to rescue her Jirota attempts seppuku but his sword is seemingly too rusty for it to work The play ends happily as Sarugenji and Hotarubi exit via the Hanamichi to get married 1 Performances editThe National Theatre of Japan in Hayabusa performed Iwashiuri as part of a double bill in September 2010 2 The Australian National University s Za Kabuki performed the play in 2002 2006 and 2011 The 2006 performance was accompanied by an original orchestral score 3 Ginza s Kabuki za performed it in October 2014 4 References edit a b Iwashi Uri Koi no Hikiami Retrieved June 25 2018 a b Sasaguchi Rei 10 September 2010 From scorn to love Mishima and bunraku Retrieved June 25 2018 ANU Za Kabuki Performance billboard anu edu au Retrieved July 9 2011 1 2 Archived 2014 09 29 at archive today Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iwashi Uri Koi Hikiami amp oldid 1148448949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
