Okinawa Play Performance in September  

”Yonaguni Shongane” 

”The Story of the King of Kuroshima”  

 

 

 

Okinawa Play Performance 
”Yonaguni Shongane” 
”The Story of the King of Kuroshima”
 
Venue :  National Theatre Okinawa (Large Theatre)
 National Theatre Okinawa has implemented measures for our visitors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 

 
Performance Date : Sep.18(Sat.)
 
■Performance Time : 1st.14:00-16:00 / 2nd.18:00-20:00
 
■Ticket Prices  (including tax)
Adults: ¥4,000
University Student: ¥2,000
High school Students and below: ¥1,000
 
■Booking Opens
available from Aug.1(Sun.),2021
 
■Box Office
 098-871-3350 (10:00 - 18:00) in Japanese and English
 
■Online Booking
【National Theatre Okinawa Online reservation services】

■Counter Sales at the Theatre
available from Aug.1(Sun.),2021
 
*End times are estimates and could vary. 
*Subtitles: Available only in Japanese. Displayed on screen beside the stage.
 
 
■Synopsis

 ”Yonaguni Shongane”

Hanagushiku Masandou, who has been appointed Gumuchi Bugyo (Magistrate of Treasury), postpones his wedding with his fiancée, Madamachi, and heads to Yonaguni Island, the westernmost island in Japan, for official business. When Masandou falls ill on the unfamiliar boat trip, Maichi, an island maiden, takes care of him devotedly. The two become a couple envied by everyone, and Maichi becomes pregnant. Masandou, who must eventually return to Shuri after completing his mission, breaks off his engagement to Madamachi, promises to come back for Maichi and the child, and leaves from Nanta-hama Beach on Yonaguni Island.

After returning to Shuri, Masandou tells his mother that he would like to take Maichi as his wife, but she opposes him on the grounds that her status is too different from that of the venerable Hanagushiku family, and talks of marriage with Madamachi proceed.

Five years later, with no news from Masandou, Maichi heads for the Hanagushiku family's home in Shuri with her grown child, Kana-gwa.What she finds there is that Madamachi is about to throw herself into a well, having been kicked out by Masandou's mother because she has not been blessed with a child in the five years since she married into the Hanagushiku family.When Masandou's mother finds out that the child Maichi has brought is her son's child, she offers to take Kana-gwa into the Hanagushiku family, but Maichi stubbornly refuses.Then Masandou appears and has a heartwarming reunion with Maichi and his son. He earnestly asks Maichi to let him take in Kana-gwa to save the Hanagushiku family from a crisis.Maichi, concerned for her child's future, decides to listen to Masandou, and parts reluctantly from Kana-gwa, her body trembling and tears falling down her cheeks.

 

”The Story of the King of Kuroshima”

The King of Kuroshima summons three brothers, Turajugani, Kanimachi, and Momochiyo, to the castle to find a son-in-law for his only daughter, Mautugani. The King of Kuroshima tells them that he will take as sons-in-law the one who searches for a treasure that is unique in the world, so the three brothers set out on a treasure hunt. On the way to the treasure hunt, each of the brothers encounters a mysterious phenomenon. The eldest son, Turajugani, was tired and sleeping in a cave when a habu appears. The habu turns into smoke, which turns into an old gray-haired man, who gives him a flying robe. The second son, Kanimachi, was resting in the shade of a tree when an old gray-haired man appears and entrusts him with a far-seeing mirror. The third son, Momochiyo, also receives from the old gray-haired man a strange-smelling peach that supposedly brings the dead back to life. While the three brothers were boasting about their treasures, Kanimachi suddenly looks into the mirror and sees the image of Mautugani, who is on the verge of death due to an incurable disease. The three panicked brothers use Turajugani's flying robe to fly through the sky and rush to the castle where the King of Kuroshima and the others were staying, but Mautugani passes away. The three brothers arrive shortly thereafter. When Momochiyo lets Mautugani smell the peach, she comes back to life. The King of Kuroshima praises the three brothers, but each of them claims that it was because of his own treasure, so it could not be determined who would become the son-in-law. Meanwhile, a turmoil occurs where Mao Yun, who came from China, creates a storm in this world in a bid to take over the castle of the King of Kuroshima. The three brothers join forces and succeed in defeating Mao Yun. The King of Kuroshima is delighted, and Turajugani is welcomed as the husband of Mautugani. Kanimachi becomes Turajugani 's vassal, working to ensure that peace prevails in the world by keeping a watchful eye through the far-seeing mirror. Momochiyo becomes a farmer, growing many crops and saving the starving people with peaches.