Kabuki Plus
Imose
notable!“Imose” is an ancient word meaning a man (se) and woman (imo) in love or a married couple. Mt Imo and Mt Se are a pair of mountains reminiscent of a couple and are together called Mt Imose (Imoseyama). Two rocks standing together are also often called “fufu-iwa” (married couple rocks). This story takes place near Mt Imose on both sides of the Yoshino River in Nara.
Appearance of legendary historical characters
notable!Stories featuring historical themes from the ancient to medieval periods are called dynasty dramas. This is a representative work within this genre. Soga Iruka is a real-life character who was killed by Emperor Tenchi’s retainer Fujiwara Kamatari during the Taika Reforms of 645. In this work, Iruka is depicted as a rebel who tries to displace the emperor. He appears in an evil nobleman’s costume. He has superhuman powers after his mother swallowed the blood of a deer, but those powers will disappear if he hears the sound of a black deer’s horn that has been washed by a jealous woman’s blood. Kamatari’s son Tankai is also a real-life figure.
Legend of Uneme’s robe-hanging willow tree
An ancient legend tells of a servant of the emperor who drowned herself in Sarusawa Pond in Nara after being denied his love. The pond reflects the tower at nearby Kofukuji Temple. There is still a willow tree standing by this pond that is said to be where Uneme hung her clothes before entering the water as well as a shrine dedicated to her memory.
Capital punishment for killing deer
The deer of Kasugano in Nara were considered sacred, and those who killed the animals were buried up to their necks and pelted to death with stones. In a rarely produced scene in Act III, a hunter who kills a deer needed to overcome Iruka is almost given this punishment.
Legend of Miwa
notable!Legend has it that a man used to pay nightly visits to a princess who would spin thread. Because he would not divulge his identity, she put a thread on the corner of the man’s robe and followed the trail the next day. When she reached Miwa Shrine, she realized he was the god of the shrine.
