Himuro

氷室 The Ice Cavern

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Miyamasu, according to Nōhon sakusha chūmon

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

On his way back from visiting Kuseto in Tango Province, a courtier (waki) in the service of the retired Emperor Kameyama climbs Mt. Himuro. There, he encounters two men, one young (tsure) and one old (maeshite) who are guarding an ice cavern (himuro) there. They tell the courtier how this cave was once used as a source of ice for the Emperor’s desserts in summertime. The old man then suggests the courtier attend the ice festival at the local shrine, then disappears into the ice cavern. A priest of the shrine to the ice cavern (sometimes a minor God—ai) appears and tells the same story in plain speech. That night, a heavenly maiden (nochitsure) appears and dances while the snow falls. The God of the Ice Cavern (nochishite) also comes near and exhibits the ice to be presented to the Emperor.