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I have created a three-part song based on the Japanese literary classic, "The Tale of Genji." It portrays the life of the protagonist, Hikaru Genji, in a trilogy.
Part 1: The Youth and Glory of Hikaru Genji
The young and handsome Hikaru Genji, in search of the memory of his deceased mother, falls in love with various women. His love life is always tumultuous, including a forbidden love for his stepmother, Fujitsubo, who strongly resembles his mother; a strained relationship with his formal wife, Aoi no Ue; and love affairs that cross class boundaries.
At one point, an affair with the daughter of a political rival leads to his exile from the capital. He spends lonely days in the countryside of Suma and Akashi. However, when he is eventually summoned back to the capital, he rises further in rank, ultimately reaching the position of Daijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm), the highest rank among the aristocracy.
Part 2: The Shadow on Glory and His Anguish
Although Hikaru Genji has reached the pinnacle of glory, his heart is not at peace. The mistakes he made in his youth come back to him as if they were a boomerang. His new wife, Onna San no Miya (the Third Princess), falls in love with another man and gives birth to a child. This mirrors the transgression Genji himself committed with his father's wife, Fujitsubo.
Furthermore, after his most beloved wife, Murasaki no Ue, dies from an illness, Genji sinks into deep sorrow. Feeling the emptiness of worldly glory, he decides to renounce the world and become a monk. He then quietly disappears from the story.
Part 3: The Story of the Next Generation After Genji's Death
The stage is set in the world after Hikaru Genji's death. The main characters are two young noblemen: "Kaoru," who is known as Genji's son (but is actually the child of Onna San no Miya and another man), and "Niou Miya," Genji's grandson.
They become involved in a complex web of love surrounding three beautiful sisters living in a place called Uji. This section is known as the "Uji Jūjō" (The Ten Chapters of Uji) and is a story that, while different from Genji's tale, delves even deeper into the human heart.
The map of my 57 years has been completed. I don't have a compass, but I will trust my intuition and set out on a journey to find my future self. I wonder what kind of people I will meet. What kind of scenery will I encounter? Hiroshi's journey begins now.
Troubled Hiroshi