Abstract:

Originally written for the bunraku puppet theatre, AKOYA was first staged as kabuki in 1733. It is set during the twelfth century, when civil war rages between the Heike and Genji military clans. The Genji forces capture the courtesan Akoya in order to torture her into telling them the whereabouts of her lover, the Heike commader Kagekiyo. Her entrance, dressed in magnificent robes, is one of the great kabuki moments. Presiding over the interrogation are the wise govenor Shigetada and the vicious Iwanaga. Iwanaga brings his torture equipment, but Shigetada brings not instruments of torture but of music. He demands Akoya plays the koto, the shamisen and the kokyu. This is another highlight of the play, requiring great skill of the actor. Shigetada knows that Akoya will pour out her true feelings and emotions. The kokyu music becomes increasingly emotional with screeching high notes. In the end, Shigetada is convinced she doesn't know Kagekiyo's whereabouts and she is free to leave. Featuring Bando Tamasaburo V, possibly the most popular onnagata (female role) kabuki actor, and Kankuro (Kanaburo) Nakamura. || Originally recorded in Tokyo's famed Kabuki-za Theater in 2003 and broadcast by NHK, the Japanese Broadcast Company. An optional English translation and commentary by Kabuki scholars Paul M. Griffith, Ronald Cavaye and Valerie Durham follows the stories and provides additional information to help international audiences appreciation of Kabuki performance, history, music and dance.