Kabuki A to Z:Sukeroku｜文化デジタルライブラリー

Sukeroku

【助六】

【SUKEROKU】

One of the Kabuki-Juhachiban plays that is said to have been premiered by Ichikawa Danjuro 2nd in 1713.
The work on which “Sukeroku” is based was initially performed in the Wagoto style in Kamigata region. Danjuro 2nd performed “Sukeroku” in Edo by breaking through a set picture in people’s minds at that time: “we have Danjuro when it comes to Aragoto”. Therefore, the acting of the leading role Sukeroku expresses the softness of the Wagoto within the Aragoto style. While performing the role over and over, Danjuro 2nd attempted some revisions in the play, including to change the setting of Sukeroku as being Soga no Goro in reality.
The people in Edo came to think of “Sukeroku” to be a typical “Edokko (people born and raised in Edo), since the generations of Danjuro performed “Sukeroku” numerous times.