This Sewamono, written by Kawatake Mokuami, is commonly called "Kamiyui shinza" from the name of its hero.
Shinza has enticed Chushichi, the Shirakoya clerk, to aid him in kidnapping Okuma, daughter of the Shirakoya's owner. Shinza sent back Yatagoro Genshichi, the gang leader who came to negotiate with him, but the landlord Chobe who comes to see Shinza is more than Shinza can cope with, and Shinza decides to release Okuma in exchange for 30 ryo in cash. But Chobe talks Shinza down and cheats him out of 15 ryo and half of a large bonito. Later, Genshichi ambushes Shinza and kills him to avenge the humiliation he suffered because of Shinza.
Usually this work is performed from the 'Shirakoya misesaki' scene in which Shinza persuades Chushichi to join his plot, to the 'Fukagawa emmadobashi' scene in which Genshichi takes his revenge on Shinza.
Shinza has enticed Chushichi, the Shirakoya clerk, to aid him in kidnapping Okuma, daughter of the Shirakoya's owner. Shinza sent back Yatagoro Genshichi, the gang leader who came to negotiate with him, but the landlord Chobe who comes to see Shinza is more than Shinza can cope with, and Shinza decides to release Okuma in exchange for 30 ryo in cash. But Chobe talks Shinza down and cheats him out of 15 ryo and half of a large bonito. Later, Genshichi ambushes Shinza and kills him to avenge the humiliation he suffered because of Shinza.
Usually this work is performed from the 'Shirakoya misesaki' scene in which Shinza persuades Chushichi to join his plot, to the 'Fukagawa emmadobashi' scene in which Genshichi takes his revenge on Shinza.
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In the 'Eitaibashi' scene, Shinza makes a long speech as if he is throwing words at Chushichi. This is famous as an excellent speech in which many words related to umbrella (kasa) are inserted into its shichigo-cho (7 and 5 syllable meter) rhythm. Listen to the beginning of the speech here.
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![[Part of] excellent 'Kasazukushi' speech. Shinza played by Nakamura Kankuro 5th and Chushichi by Nakamura Hashinosuke 3rd, "Tsuyu kosode mukashi hachijo" 'Eitaibashi kawabata' scene, April 1988](images/img_5_04_26-01.jpg)  < RealPlayer : 4.2MB >
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"Fudan wa choba o mawari no kamiyui, iwaba tokui no koto dakara, unu no youna manukeyaro nimo, yare Chushichisan toka bantosan toka jozu o tsukatte deiri o surumo, issenshoku to mukashi kara, sagatta kagyo no yowatari ni, nikoniko waratta daikoku no, kuchi o tsubometa karakasa mo, narande sashite kitakarawa, aiaigasa no gobu to gobu, rokuro no youna kubi o shite, Okuma ga matte iyou to omoi, ame no yukari ni shippori to, nururu kokoro de kaeruno o, sotchi ga musume ni furitsukerare, hajiki ni sareta kuyashimbo ni, e no nee tokoroe e o suete, aburagami e hi no tsuku yoni berabera gotaku o nukashagaruto, kotchi mo otoko no ijizuku ni oboe wa nee to shirahari no shira o kittaru bangasa de, unu ga kabosoi sono karada e, bettari shirushi o tsukete yaraa"
Kabuki theatrical performances emphasize seasonal feelings. This work is set in early summer, and the hatsugatsuo vender who appears in the 'Tomiyoshicho shinza uchi' scene is an outstanding example of seasonal feeling. Edokko (people born in Edo) customarily prized highly the vegetables, fruits and fish harvested at the beginning of each season. In this scene, the hatsugatsuo bought by Shinza becomes an important prop in the subsequent argument between Shinza and his landlord Chobe. The excellence of Mokuami's writing can be seen in his effective use of the hatsugatsuo for story development while simultaneously giving a seasonal feeling.
