Tadanobu

忠信 Tadanobu

1 Source and/or Related Material

Gikeiki book 5, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō

4 Synopsis

After defeating the Heike, Minamoto no Yoshitsune has fallen under the suspicion of his older brother, the shogun Yoritomo, so he must flee the capital and go into hiding on Mt. Yoshino (Nara). One day, his retainer Ise no Saburō Yoshimori (waki) alerts Yoshitsune (tsure) that a group of Yoshino warrior monks are planning to betray Yoshitsune that night. Yoshitsune asks Ise no Saburō whether there is anyone in his retinue who can fend off the enemy, giving everyone else time to escape, then catch up later. Ise no Saburō calls in Satō Tadanobu (shite). At first Tadanobu refuses, but when pressed by Yoshitsune, he accepts it as his duty. When the time comes to leave, Yoshitsune and Tadanobu part in tears. The warrior monks (tsure) come looking for Yoshitsune, and Tadanobu climbs a tower to shoot arrows at them, then comes down to defeat them in close combat. After a hard-won victory, Tadanobu makes his own escape to the capital.