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Description
In the play "Yoshitsune's 1000 Cherry Trees / Yoshitsune senbon zakura," the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1185) must journey to a distant island and entrusts his beloved mistress Shizuka gozen to his friend Sato Tadanobu (1161-1186) for protection. After various adventures, Shizuka and Tadanobu encounter the Buddhist priest Yokokawa Kakuhan (at right), who is actually the Minamoto adversary Taira Noristune (1160-1185) in disguise. The warrior Noritsune was thought to have died at Dan-no-ura, in the last great battle between the Genji and Heike, but according to this play he was captured by Yoshitsune's retainers and then released by Yoshitsune on the condition that he meet Tadanobu in a duel. Noritsune had killed Tadanobu's brother Tsugunobu in the Battle of Yashima. (See Plate 229) In this snowy scene outside the Buddhist temple hall Zaodo in the mountains of Yoshino, Sato Tadanobu, played by the great actor Nakamura Shikan IV (1830-1899), realizes the true identity of the false priest Kakuhan and challenges Noritsune to battle. Tadanobu wears armor given to him by Yoshitsune, which is supposed to make him impervious to attack. Noritsune, carrying a halberd, is played by Kataoka Ichizo III (1851-1906), and the onnagata is Arashi Kuninosuke. Just as Tadanobu is about to defeat Noritsune, Yoshitsune again appears to rescue the Taira warrior and pardon him.
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