<Play:
Three brothers in Ageo >
This
play is also one of the typical Taishu-engeki plays, which depicts the struggle
between giri (duty) and ninjo (human emotions).
A bad oyabun (the leader of yakuza family),
being attracted by his henchman’s wife, tried to rape her. At the very moment
her husband comes back and prevents oyabun
from the rape. Oyabun is mad at the
interference, and takes out a knife. In the scuffle, the husband stabs the oyabun to death.
Since
the murder of oyabun is absolutely
forbidden in the Yakuza world in any circumstances, he tries to kill himself.
His wife begs him not to and asks him to elope from the region. When they set to leave
home, the henchman’s “elder brother” [as the yakuza clan was supposed to be a
“family,” the members call each other “brother”] drops in. Seeing what
happened, the elder guy tries to kill his brother. However, his wife stops him
and explains what really happened. The elder guy understands the situation and
urges the couple to escape from the other henchmen’s chase. He even suggests to
accompany them in order to lead the way in the mountain. On their way back to the
couples’ home district, they have to fight against the rest of the yakuza family members
and the younger guy gets injured.
Deep in
the mountain, the couple and the elder brother come across an old house. They ask the owner of the house to let them stay somewhere. First, the owner (an
old man) refuses, but eventually allows them to stay in a barn next to the
house. When they settle there,
the chasing team led by a robust guy, actually their closest “brother” in
the family, catches them. It turns out that the guy is the old owner’s prodigal son. The old owner
tries to protect those in the barn, his son finds out
them. In spite of the father's plead, the son is determined to execute them as the murderer of their oyabun. The couple and the brother make up their mind and present
themselves to the son (he is the oldest among the “brothers”). At the very last
moment, the son changes his mind and does not kill the three.
Though
the story being wrapped with the cover of a typical yakuza tragedy, zachō Hiryū de-constructs the sentimental content and reconstructs it as a psychological drama. The brothers struggle with the sense of duty to the oyabun (the father) and the family law, even if it is
totally irrational. The focus is on how each one solves the struggle and why he gives up the revenge (duty). It seems that the
audience share Hiryū’s understanding of the tragedy and get a relief in the
end.
<Dance
show>
|
Hiryū Can you can see the cute dimple? |
|
Hiryū |
|
Hiryū |
|
Kotoramaru |
|
Kotoramaru |
|
Harunosuke |
|
Harunosuke |
|
Hiryū: sword play |
|
Hiryū |
|
Hiryū |
|
Daisuke |
|
Jun'ichi |
|
Amane |
|
Hiryū |
<Taiko
(drum) show>