Kosode Soga

小袖曽我 The Soga Robe

1 Source and/or Related Material

Tale of the Soga Brothers, book 7

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The Soga brothers, Jūrō Sukenari (shite) and Gorō Tokimune (tsure), make one last visit to their mother (tsure) before their vendetta against Kudō Suketsune, who killed their father. Sukenari converses with his mother through his nursemaid Kasuga no Tsubone (ai), but the disinherited Tokimune is forbidden from speaking to her. Sukenari tries to mediate for his younger brother, but his mother threatens to disown him, too, if he continues to intervene. Finally, Sukenari brings Tokimune before their mother and explains their plan to avenge their father. As the brothers tearfully prepare to leave, their mother stops them and revokes Tokimune’s disinheritance. She then holds a celebratory banquet for the brothers’ departure. The brothers perform a farewell dance and set off in high spirits.