Koi no Omoni

恋重荷 The Heavy Burden of Love

1 Source and/or Related Material

the older play Aya no Tsuzumi (The Damask Drum)

2 Author

Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Komparu

4 Synopsis

An elderly gardener, Yamashina no Shōji (maeshite), catches sight of a lady (tsure) of the emperor’s palace and falls in love with her. A courtier (waki) orders an attendant (ai) to summon Shōji. The court official gives Shōji a message from the lady: Shōji may come in and see her if he can carry a heavy stone around the palace garden. Shōji immediately reaches for the beautifully wrapped stone but is unable to lift it, and so, stricken with despair and resentment, he dies. The attendant reports Shōji’s death to the court lady, who feels remorseful and goes with the court official to mourn him. Suddenly, she is unable to move. Shōji’s vengeful spirit (nochishite) appears and berates the woman for her heartlessness. Eventually, however, he is appeased and vows to become her guardian deity.