Youchi Soga

夜討曽我 The Soga Brothers’ Night Attack

1 Source and/or Related Material

Tale of the Soga Brothers book 9

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Accompanied by their retainers Danzaburō (tsure) and Oniō (tsure), the Brothers Soga—the elder Jūrō Sukenari (tsure) and the younger Gorō Tokimune (shite)—arrive at the foot of Mt. Fuji (Shizuoka), the shogun Yoritomo is about to hold a great ceremonial hunt with warriors from across the East. It is here that the brothers plan to assassinate Kudō Suketsune, the man who killed their father. Danzaburō and Oniō plead with the Soga Brothers to let them join in the vendetta, but they persuade their retainers that they must complete the important task of smuggling mementos of the doomed brothers to their mother. Jūrō hands the retainers a small pouch containing a letter he has written for his mother, and masters and servants part in tears. Night falls, and Ōtōnai (omoai), the priest of Kibitsu no Miya Shrine, comes running from Suketsune’s cabin in a panic. A caretaker (adoai) of the hunting grounds asks him what is the matter, and he tells how the Soga Brothers raided their cabin and assassinated Suketsune, and a battle has begun which is still in progress. Gorō calls out to Jūrō, but he does not respond. Gorō becomes despondent after confirming that his brother has died, but he is determined to cut down his enemy Furuya Gorō (tsure). Gorōmaru (tsure), the shogun’s sword bearer, afraid to face Gorō in open combat, lies in wait disguised as a woman. Caught off guard, Gorō is seized and taken prisoner to the shogun Yoritomo.