Page:The Surviving Works of Sharaku (1939).djvu/147



agoya Sanzayemon is killed by his enemy Fuwa no Banzayemon, and his son Nagoya Sanza has no clue as to who did the deed but does know that the sword his father cherished and had always worn had disappeared at the time of his death.

Sanza, seeking information that would disclose the identity of the man who had killed his father, begins frequenting the licensed quarter where all the brawling spirits of the city were likely to be met, and on his visits there he falls in love with a girl named Katsuragi. Fuwa Banzayemon, the villain of the piece, also frequents the licensed quarter and while there he loses his heart to the same girl who, however, returns the affection of Sanza and not of Banzayemon. Naturally enough, a quarrel arises and when Banzayemon draws his sword, the young hero of the piece Sanza, who was noted for his swordsmanship, recognizes the weapon of his father and accomplishes the vendetta with double satisfaction. The secondary threads of the action of the play need not be described here and we will say only that among the minor characters whom Sharaku portrayed as he saw them enacted, Fuwa Banzaku is the son of the arch-enemy, Fuwa Banzayemon, while Tosa no Matahei and Ukiyo Matahei are yakko attached to the opposing sides.