Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Bunrakuza Theater in Osaka, the Tokyo National Theater this month presents in its entirety "Imoseyama Onna Teikin (Admonitions to Women on Their Relationships with Men)," Chikamatsu Hanji's 1771 bunraku masterpiece.
"Imoseyama Onna Teikin" centers on the atrocious deeds of the seventh-century statesman Soga no Iruka, who schemes to usurp the Imperial throne after murdering his father, Emishi. The drama also relates Iruka's overthrow by Emperor Tenji and minister Fujiwara no Kamatari in the Taika coup of 645.
Grandiose in scale, this fantastic drama incorporates certain local legends from the ancient Yamato region, extending from Nara to Osaka. Its structure is further complicated by the addition of three stories of young people who sacrifice their lives to ensure the success of Kamatari and his son Tankai.