O-BARA (sings)
Kubota listens, swaying his head to the rhythm. Okasan glances sideways at him to see whether he is pleased.
During O-Bara’s performance, the following takes place on the hanamichi.
Kinjo, taking advantage of the fact that the spectators are absorbed in the performance, sets about his thievish business. First he deftly frisks the Ronin beside him: he searches under his belt and in his broad sleeve, and raises the hem of his kimono from behind. But he finds nothing of any value and shakes his head in disgust. He creeps a little farther forward, walking on tiptoe, and sets to work on the merchant. Here he has much better luck. He takes a purse out of the man’s sleeve and a silk pouch and gilded pipe from behind his belt; in the lining of the merchant’s kimono he discovers a secret pocket, from which he fishes out several gold coins.
The geisha’s performance comes to an end. She bows deeply, exclusively to Kubota, and heaves a deep sigh, which is accompanied by the gesture ‘Sensual Agitation’, then walks away to the far side of the stage and sits down there.
KUBOTA (to the owner) What a seductress! I could have watched and watched. I am no longer young, and yet my blood still boiled. The prince will like her even more. Of course, it is embarrassing even to compare her with the princess. For after all, my lord’s wife was chosen by his father, who was thinking, not of beauty, but of profit for the treasury…
OKASAN Will you permit me now to call Izumi? She is in a different style, but also very fine.
Kubota nods and the owner claps her hands.
Izumi appears. She is wearing a muted but elegant kimono of bluish-white with silver embroidery. She moves smoothly, almost weightlessly. Her eyes are lowered. She bows first to the guest, then to the owner, then to the public. Her pupil Sen-chan abruptly gets up, runs to the stage and hands Izumi a fan, after which she takes her time returning to her place.
Izumi begins a slow, elegant dance.
KUBOTA (moved) Oh, such nobility! The patterning of the dance is pure! She is exactly like a willow tree above a quiet river!
SEN-CHAN (very clearly) Did you hear, my sister? He has approved the dance. He likened you to a willow tree above a quiet river!
OKASAN Such naughtiness! Intolerable child! She has not been with us for long. Forgive her, my lord!
Kubota is so entranced by the geisha that he has not heard either the shout or the apologies. Sen-chan comes running back and takes the fan from Izumi, who sits down with the shamisen, plays and sings.
IZUMI
SEN-CHAN (turning towards the auditorium) Did you all hear? Did you hear? Oh, how she sings! In all the world there is no one more beautiful than my Izumi-san!
Yuba nudges the girl in the side with her elbow, and she falls silent. During Izumi’s performance the thief carries on working. After cleaning out the merchant, he moves on to the ‘monk’. Here there is a surprise in store for him. Not having discovered anything in the sleeve, Kinjo lifts the hem of the robe – and sees the gleaming blade of a naked sword. The thief backs away fearfully and takes up a position behind Yuba. He tries to thrust his hand in behind her belt, but, unable to resist, lovingly strokes the firm, cloth-wrapped thigh.
Without turning round, Yuba slaps the unknown rascal on the hand. Kinjo calms down.
Izumi finishes singing. She bows again in three directions, lowers her eyes and walks away to take a seat beside O-Bara.
KUBOTA (loudly) If it were up to me, I would already halt the search! A concubine such as this is the very one we need! Modest, with excellent manners, and so comely! No stain would she inflict on my lord’s honour. And above all, in her one sees that genuine yugen, without which any beauty is but vulgar.
He bows to Okasan and says something to her fervently.
STORYTELLER
KUBOTA Although the prince is learned in the arts, he is still young. It would be good to embellish the performance, to enliven it. I shall let the Yanagi house perform last…
Okasan performs the gesture ‘Undeserved Offence’, but Kubota smiles at her cunningly.
The prince will have had time to grow weary of geishas and their songs and dances.
And then you will present your goods to him. First you bring out the rose (he nods towards O-Bara) in order to arouse him. And then do this: hire a jester or a juggler who is full of fancy twists and tricks. The prince loves acrobats. Let him laugh at some simple spectacle. But then Izumi will come out and he will be transfixed. The vulgar entertainment will provide a superb contrast for appreciating the exquisite pattern of yugen.
STORYTELLER
Okasan, bowing repeatedly, sees the samurai on his way. Everyone there bows low, with their foreheads to the ground; only Soga, as befitting a man of noble rank, does not bow down as low as that.
This is why he is the first to see that as soon as Mr Kubota and the owner of the house are hidden in the wings, the ‘monk’ abruptly straightens up, jumps to his feet, pulling out his concealed weapon, and dashes forward.
All of this happens in an instant.
Sen-chan squeals and grabs the killer by his robe. He stumbles and pulls himself free, but in that second Soga also has had time to get up and bare his sword.
The killer rushes at Izumi with a furious scream, raising his sharp blade. She freezes in horror and puts her hands over her face.
O-Bara nimbly darts out of the way.
The viewers shout and mill around.
But the Ronin moves even faster than the ‘monk’, jumping up onto the hanamichi and shielding Izumi with his body.
A sword-duel ensues, the killer making guttural sounds, Soga remaining silent.