Asukagawa

飛鳥川 The Asuka River

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A man from the capital (waki) brings Tomowaka (kokata), a young boy who has been separated from his mother, to the temple of Kinpusenji in Yoshino. On their way back over the Asuka River (Nara), they see women (shite and tsure) planting rice and singing rice-planting songs, accompanied by flutes and drums. One of the rice-planters (maeshite) informs the man and the child that today the shallows, where it is possible to cross the river, are at different places than yesterday. She then prays for a reunion with her lost child and dances. Seeing this, Tomowaka realizes that the woman must be his mother, and the two are happily reunited.