KABUKI -”Kanjincho”

I’d like to introduce one of my favorite KABUKI, ”Kanjincho”.

This is a very interesting story from the samurai days in Japan…which tells of the integrity, honor, and devotion of the Japanese samurai. “KANJINCHÔ”, is a Kabuki theater-drama, based on the Noh play, “Ataka”, by Gohei III. 

The plot involves a historically famous Japanese samurai, Musashi-Bou Benkei, and his master, Yoshitsune, the head of the Minamoto clan.

The scene takes place at the gate of an enemy’s security check-point station, at Ataka. Benkei and his master Yoshitsune, have disguised themselves as mountain monks traveling from Kyoto’s Toji Temple. They have told the enemy guards they must deliver collected names of patrons from the temple.

One guard, Togashi, becomes suspicious, and tells Benkei that he must read the names of the patrons from his “kanjincho”, the record list. Benkei, in order to protect their disguises, and holding only a blank scroll, reads out loud the names on an imaginary list.  Benkei is so convincing when doing this, Togashi will now allow them to pass through the gate.

However, suddenly Yoshitsune has been recognized by a different guard. In a quick move to save Yoshitsune, Benkei begins severely beating his master with a stick, as though Yoshitsune were under him. Even though the guard Togashi suspects the truth, he is so moved by Benkei’s loyalty and devotion to his master, he allows both Benkei and Yoshitsune to pass through the gate…all the while knowing, should their true identity be found out, his life too would be in jeopardy.