- Bunraku: 大経師昔暦 (The Almanac Maker)
2/2/19 (Sat), Tokyo
This puppet piece by the prolific Chikamatsu Monzaemon, inspired by the adulterous relationship of an actual couple, debuted in 1715 on the 33rd anniversary of their death, an important Buddhist date. It’s one of three major adultery plays written by Chikamatsu (all of which were performed together a few years back in a day of infidelity — wish I could have seen that). It reappeared in various forms after its debut, including a major Kabuki adaptation, but like most of Chikamatsu’s works fell off the map for many years, known mainly as the basis for Mizoguchi’s brilliant film The Crucified Lovers (also known by the terrible title The Chikamatsu Story「近松物語」) . The play was unearthed during a Chikamatsu renaissance in the early 1980s, with the long-lost music newly composed based on scattered memos. And a masterpiece was reborn. This is the first revival of this piece in nine years.
sekenbanashi 