Ashikari

芦刈 The Reed Cutter

1 Source and/or Related Material

Collection of Gleanings, Tales of Yamato; “The original Japanese preface,” Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems

2 Author

Unknown, staged by Kiami, reworked by Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A woman (tsure) who has prospered by working as a wet nurse for an aristocratic family in the capital visits the lands of Tsu, Naniwa, and Kusaka (Osaka) accompanied by her attendants (waki and wakitsure). She returns to her home village in search of her husband, from whom she has been separated during her term of service, but he has disappeared. Following a villager’s (ai) guidance, the attendants watch a reedcutter (shite) as he does an umbrella-dance (kasazukushi no mai) and peddles his wares. The woman realizes that the reedcutter is her husband, Kusaka no Saemon, but he is ashamed at his miserable state, and so he hides in a hut made of reeds. When they exchange poems reaffirming their love, the reedcutter comes out of hiding. Saemon praises the virtue of poetry that enabled their reunion and dances for joy. Husband and wife then return happily to the capital.