Characters
Soga Iruka
A villain who forces his own father to commit suicide and overthrows the emperor, declaring himself ruler. He has superhuman power because his father had his mother drink blood from a white deer. He has one weakness, however, that ultimately causes his downfall.
Emperor Tenchi
Expelled by Iruka but maintains continued support from retainers. This role is rarely portrayed on stage.
Fujiwara Kamatari
Faithful retainer of Emporer Tenchi and father of Tankai. He loses his position because of the machinations of Iruka’s father, but opposes Iruka’s rebellion and devises a way to strip him of his magic powers. Similar to Emperor Tenchi, this role is rarely portrayed on stage.
Lady Uneme
Tenchi’s favorite and Kamatari’s daughter. She is afraid of Iruka and pretends to have drowned herself. She hides with the help of her attendant Koganosuke.
Daihanji Kiyozumi
Ruler of Kii Province. He is in dispute over territory with the Dazai family of neighboring Yamato Province across the river. He nominally pledges loyalty to Iruka but does not accept him at heart. When he is ordered by Iruka to send his son Koganosuke for service, he allows Koganosuke to go his own way.
Dazai Sadaka
Widow of Dazai Shoni, the late ruler of Yamato Province. She is now head of the household. She learns that her daughter is in love with Koganosuke from the enemy side. In order to save Koganosuke’s life, she first tries to persuade her daughter to marry Iruka. Realizing her daughter’s deep love, she accepts when the daughter chooses death.
Koganosuke Kiyofune
Judge Kiyozumi’s son. He meets Hinadori in a fateful encounter at Komatsubara. Because he lets his mistress Uneme escape, he is called by the wary Iruka to serve as his retainer. Koganosuke commits suicide rather than give in.
Hinadori
Dazai Shoni’s daughter. She falls in love with Koganosuke without knowing of the dispute between their families, and brings him across the river to her villa. Ordered to marry Iruka, she chooses to die in order to maintain her loyalty to Koganosuke.
Omiwa
Daughter of the village liquor shop owner at the foot of Mt Miwa. She falls in love with Motome, who has newly moved into the area. When Motome follows a beautiful woman, she jealously follows him in turn, only to find herself in Iruka’s palace.
Motome, actually Fujiwara Tankai
Handsome young man newly moved into a house near the Sugi Liquor Shop. Actually the son of Fujiwara Kamitari, who lost his position because of a plot by Iruka. He disguises himself as a commoner and awaits the opportunity to take revenge. He unwittingly falls into a triangle when two woman fall in love with him.
Princess Tachibana
Iruka’s sister. She loves Motome and sneaks off from the palace at night to be with him. She know that he is actually of the enemy clan and is willing to accept Tankai’s demanding conditions for marriage.
Fukashichi, actually Kanawa Goro
Claims to be a fisherman sent by Kamatari to deliver sake to Iruka’s palace. He ends up drinking the souvenir sake and falls asleep in a show of fearlessness. In fact, he is Kamatari’s retainer and is spying on Iruka’s palace. When he sees Omiwa enraged in jealousy, he makes an important decision.
