The Subscription List EXPLAINED・Kanjinchō (1840)

Ichikawa Danjūrō I made a kabuki adaptation of the noh play Ataka as soon as 1702, but it was Namiki Gohei III's 1840 version, created for Ichikawa Danjūrō VII, that became one of the most beloved works on the repertoire. Let's have a look!
Since the beginning of the Heisei period in 1989, Kanjinchō has been played almost 100 times, with the role of Benkei most often played by Matsumoto Kōshirō IX (27 times), followed by Ichikawa Danjūrō XII (23 times), Ichikawa Ebizō XI (11 times), Nakamura Kichiemon II (7 times) and Matsumoto Kōshirō X (6 times).
If you have any question, correction or suggestion you can contact me at: [e-mail]
#kabuki #theatre #japan

[@richie9327]

I saw this live at the Kabukiza in Tokyo in 2013. I didn't understand everything (tho the explanations through earphones certainly helped) but it was quite an experience.

[@KabukiInDepth]

Yes, a good live performance of Kanjinchō is truly transformative art.

[@justindent496]

Amazing!

[@T4G0E]

Kanjincho is iconic. And Benkei's tobiroppo is probably the most legendary exit in all of theater, Eastern or Western. It's a crime this isn't more widely appreciated here.
Also, this is the most popular play starring Benkei, right? Anyone else find it funny that the most popular play featuring Benkei--a guy who's canonically as strong as 10 men and can cut off a dozen heads with a single swipe of his halberd--has him desperately avoiding ALL violence, instead beating the villains through wit, guile and even empathy? It's like if the biggest James Bond movie featured no gunshots or explosions and ended with Bond convincing the villain to reform by taking him to see a therapist.

[@KabukiInDepth]

Very good observations! I think it is for those very reasons that Kanjinchō has become so popular, while other classic plays such as Benkei Jōshi and Gohiiki Kanjinchō are seen much less often. This portrayal of Benkei is incredibly refined, even taking in account that the original noh play Ataka was already quite sophisticated.

[@Shanaoh]

I think Gojobashi is a more popular play starring Benkei than Kanjincho. I mean, that’s probably the only legend with Benkei in it that most people know about.

[@kagamisan9952]

I love this one

[@karloantoniogalaydavid6397]

Kichiemon II was really good at playing Benkei, I wonder if the name will be held by anyone after him.

[@KabukiInDepth]

I guess only time will tell. Perhaps the young Nakamura Kashō IV, who entered the Harimaya house in 2010 with his father Matagorō. I had the chance to see him perform two very difficult roles under Kichiemon's supervision (Mitsuhide in Ehon Taikōki and Ichijo Okura), and he was really great.

[@ramenim3022]

I'm in Japan and i'm having to challenge its school system without too much knowledge of Japanese, this was really helpful to understand this performance story. Since i want to proceed to a musical High school i must take a decent score on music.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Who would have thought that a subscription list could be so dramatic...

[@JokerMxyzptlk]

What is the m name of the robes that has tails covering the feet and trailing on the floor?

[@KabukiInDepth]

Those are nagabakama (長袴). But, like with most kabuki costumes and props, I believe they are a bit of an exaggeration, significantly longer than the hakama that actual samurai usually wore in formal occasions.

[@JokerMxyzptlk]

@@KabukiInDepth lol I had a feeling they were exaggerated 🤣

[@Amalvipls]

that tobiroppo at the end was very disappointing