Barrier Gate

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Barrier Gate

November 1784, Edo

A masterpiece of tokiwazu-style dance. It was originally performed as the climax to a longer kaomise play, a show designed to show off the actors of the coming year, but is now performed independently. In the late 18th century, the main character in kaomise shows was always a villain, while the climax featured spirits of trees and animals. Among the characters are three of the six legendary poets: Ono no Komachi, Munesada (Sojo Hensho before he became a monk), and the guard Sekibei (actually Otomo Kuronushi). The piece thus has a strong connection with another drama called Rokkasen Sugata no Irodori (Colorful Guises of the Six Immortal Poets). The same actor often performs Princess Komachi in the drama’s first half and the spirit of the cherry tree in the second half.

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［from left］Otomo no Kuronushi（Nakamura Kichiemon）、Spirit of cherry tree（Nakamura Fukusuke）　November 2004　Kabukiza Theatre

●publish on the web　December1 2014