Torioi(bune)

鳥追（舟） The Scarecrow

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Lord Higurashi of Satsuma Province (Kagoshima) goes to the capital to take part in a lawsuit, leaving behind his wife and son for ten years. One day, Higurashi’s retainer Sakonojō (wakitsure) orders his long-gone master’s son Hanawaka (kokata) to do the lowly work of riding around the rice paddies in a boat and playing drum and fife to scare away the birds. Higurashi’s wife (shite) condemns Sakonojō’s impudence, but Sakonojō threatens to throw them both out of the estate if they do not follow his orders. Concerned about her young son, Higurashi’s wife gets into a boat with him so they can work together. Just then, Higurashi (waki), whose lawsuit has finally ended, returns home with his attendant (ai), and as he comes near he hears flutes and drums, sees the bird-chasing boat, and realizes that it is being manned by his own wife and son. He vows to punish his wicked servant, but his wife convinces him to be lenient.