Sanbyakuryou Sandogasa Fuingiri

Production Background This domestic play was written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon for the puppet theater and was first performed around 1711 at the Takemotoza theater in Osaka It is based on a real incident of embezzlement by a courier that actually occurred in Osaka at that time The story depicts the tragedy of a protagonist who commits a capital crime by breaking the seal on official funds for the sake of his love for a courtesan

Synopsis Chubei an adopted son of the Kameya courier service in Osaka is deeply in love with Umegawa a courtesan When a plan arises for another patron to redeem Umegawa Chubei struggles to raise money and unable to endure insults from a friend he breaks the seal on three hundred ryo of official money entrusted to him This act constitutes a grave crime punishable by death Using the money to buy Umegawa freedom Chubei and Umegawa flee together to Ninokuchi Village in Yamato Running through the falling snow the couple is eventually captured and departs on their journey to the afterlife


Seal broken! (Tek!) Seal broken! (Tek!)
Deeply, deeply, re-adjust your straw hat!
Deeply, deeply, re-adjust your straw hat!

Three hundred ryō! (Dum!) Three hundred ryō! (Dum!)

Chūbee, Umegawa, to Shinmachi!
They've laid hands on the mansion's gold!

Escape from Awajimachi, run away!
Pull your straw hat down low!

Snow falls, falls (Pa-ra-pa-pa!) To Yamato Road!
Pursuers come, come (Rat-ta-ta-ta!) Right there!