Rōdaiko

籠太鼓 The Prison Drum

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Seki no Seiji is a servant of a certain Lord Matsura (waki) of Kyūshū. One day, Seiji kills a man after a quarrel. Seiji is imprisoned as a result, but he breaks out of jail. Matsura hears what happened from a servant (ai) who was guarding the prison, so he imprisons Seiji’s wife in his stead. Matsura tells the wife that he will free her if only she will tell him where Seiji is, but she replies that she does not know. Matsura is impressed by her efforts to protect her husband. The wife then dances as she yearns her husband, while playing the drum installed in prisons to announce the time. Matsura expunges Seiji’s criminal record, and the wife thanks him for his mercy.