Enshumodori Ishibejuku Fugi Yukari Maronomushi Renrinoshigarami Nokatsuragawa

Inspired by Suga Sensuke's "Katsura River Enri no Shigarami" (1776), Kitahorie-za Theater, Osaka

Enshu, Return to Ishibe-juku, Fugiyuenmaro's "Mushi Renri Saku no Katsuragawa"

1. Background and Origin
Choemon, the owner of a Kyoto obi shop, is a sensible merchant around 40 years old (inferred from the description "I was raised until I was five years old...after I became an adult"), but he is shunned at home by his stepmother, Otose, and his stepbrother, Gihee.

Choemon harbors a secret: on the way back from a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine, he accidentally shared lodgings with Ohan (14-15 years old), the daughter of the neighboring Shinanoya family, in Ishibe-juku, where he committed an infidelity.

[Father Hansai's Rage and Punishment (Obi-ya Scene)]
In this powerful scene, Choemon's retired father, Hansai, becomes enraged when his brother-in-law, Gibei, tries to frame him. He goes on a rampage with a broom in hand. He insults Gibei's origins and declares that Choemon is the rightful heir.

Hansai (Father)
"You've spoken so harshly of Mother Korya. But you still won't stop. It's not your turn to hit him. I'll have my brother confess for you. No, confessing won't get you anywhere. If you even lay a finger on my brother, I, Hansai, will come after you."

[Description of Season and Location (Yukino, Past Fate)]
This is the scene where Choemon recounts a past incident (a rescue from a stranded man in Yukino) that explains why he is so protective of his brother-in-law, Yoshibei's misdeeds.

"It's a lie to say that the 100 ryo was for sex."

"Well, I wish I'd said this properly.
It was just an excuse to avoid being seen as a flirtatious lascivious maniac.
It's my own brother, after all. I don't regret the 100 ryo in exchange."