The Vendetta of the 47 Rōnin in Modern Kabuki

Brian Powell taught Japanese theatre at Oxford University for nearly forty years. He is the author of Kabuki in Modern Japan, Mayama Seika and his Plays (1990), Japan’s Modern Theatre, a Century of Continuity and Change (2002) and numerous articles on Japanese theatre since the late nineteenth century. He has been President of both the British Association for Japanese Studies and the European Association for Japanese Studies. Paul Griffith, formerly Associate Professor, Saitama University, Japan. For 40 years he has worked as a translator and commentator at Kabuki theatres in Tokyo, and has written articles, translations for Kabuki DVDs and subtitles for ‘Cinema Kabuki’ movies. He is co-author of A guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge (Kodansha, 2004). Ronald Cavaye, formerly professor of piano at Musashino Academia Musicae, Tokyo. He has worked as commentator and translator for the Kabuki ‘Earphone Guide’ and ‘G-Mark Guide’ since 1982. He is author of Kabuki – a Pocket Guide, (Tuttle), co-author of A Guide to the Japanese Stage: From Traditional to Cutting Edge (Kodansha, 2004) and translator of many Kabuki DVDs. Rachel Payne lectured in Japanese language and culture at the University of Canterbury (NZ) for 15 years. She has research interests in many aspects of Japanese traditional theatre.

Acknowledgements VII

List of Figures IX

Note on Japanese Terms XI



Introduction

 Paul Griffith and Brian Powell



1 The Attack in Edo Castle (Edojō no Ninjō)

 Paul Griffith



2 The Second Pair of Messengers (Dai Ni no Shisha)

 Ronald Cavaye



3 The Last Great Council (Saigo no Daihyōjō)

 Ronald Cavaye



4 The Shumoku-machi Pleasure Quarter in Fushimi (Fushimi Shumoku-machi)

 Ronald Cavaye



5 Lord Tsunatoyo at His Ohama Estate (Ohama Goten Tsunatoyo-kyō)

 Paul Griffith



6 Farewell in the Snow at Nanbuzaka (Nanbuzaka Yuki no Wakare)

 Brian Powell



7 The Rear Gate of the Kira Mansion (Kira Yashiki Uramon)

 Ronald Cavaye and Paul Griffith



8 Sengakuji Temple (Sengakuji)

 Brian Powell



9 Sengoku Mansion (Sengoku Yashiki)

 Brian Powell



10 Ōishi’s Last Day (Ōishi Saigo no Ichinichi)

 Brian Powell



Appendix 1: Family Crests (kamon)

Appendix 2: Clothing

Glossary

Selected Bibliography