It's a traditional performing art with a rich history.

It draws a million theater-goers per year...

It's Kabuki!

Kabuki actor Kataoka Ainosuke explores it with us on "KABUKI KOOL."

Today we look at "The Battles of Coxinga."

Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in the 1700s, it's still very popular today.

This epic tale goes beyond Japan, and goes all the way to China.

Let's open the curtain to find out more.

Hi, I'm Sarah Àlainn.

Kabuki has been performed for over 400 years!

It’s incredible and it never ceases to amaze me.

Today, our guide is Kabuki actor, Kataoka Ainosuke-san.

Hello.

Hello!

So, Ainosuke-san...

Yes?

I understand today's Kabuki play was written in the early 18th century.

That's right.

First we have an Ukiyo-e woodblock print.

Oh, wow!

This is a scene from "The Battles of Coxinga,"

written as a puppet play in 1715 by the great playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon.

So there are four characters involved.

Yes.

But these aren't Japanese kimonos, are they?

No, the play is actually set in China. This is our hero, Watonai.

A very brave, strong person.

And what's the story about?

Like yourself, Watonai has a Japanese mother, and a father from another country.

In this case, China.

Watonai travels to China, and has some extraordinary adventures there.

Our backgrounds are so similar. I'm intrigued, already!

Posed next to Watonai is a Chinese general, Kanki.

Here he is.

And Kanki's wife, Kinshojo.

And we also have Watonai's mother, Nagisa.

Mmm, I see.

But are those real historical figures?

Yes.

Watonai himself was based on a man named Tei Seikou.

"Coxinga" is a kind of a title.

He was born in Japan in the 1600s, and fought against the Qing dynasty for the restoration of the Ming dynasty.

At the time this play was written, Tei Seikou was famous in Japan as well.

So when the play first came out, it ran for an astonishing 17 months.

It was a great hit then, and was copied by Kabuki immediately, and it has been performed regularly ever since.

Mmm.

And I believe that you actually played this Watonai character very recently. Is that right?

Yes, I played the role of Watonai this March for the first time, and it was very exciting.

When the play was adapted into Kabuki, Watonai became an "aragoto" hero.

It's very spectacular and enjoyable, even if it's your first time to see Kabuki.

"Aragoto!" That means you'll be wearing "kumadori" make-up!

Yes, I am.

Wow! How exciting!

So before we watch a bit of your performance,

since we were lucky enough to get a glimpse into your dressing room, we'll be watching you get ready first.

That's right.

Here, this is my dressing room.

In the alcove, there is a scroll with a rubbing of writing by the actual Tei Seikou, and a kite showing Watonai.

You've started to do your make-up. Do you always do it yourself?

Of course.

Kabuki actors do their make-up themselves.

This is the first time I've seen it being done.

Really?

This is "kumadori," right?

Yes, it is.

This one has red lines that represent blood vessels.

You know how people's veins stick out when they get angry?

I draw a strong line and then shade it out.

You get the best effect by using your finger.

The lines stand out cleanly, looking from the audience.

And you also draw your eyebrows and eyeliner in a strong manner!

Yes. I have to draw these so that they make the eyes look very powerful.

And after the make-up, comes the wig.

Yes, it does.

And this is a special wig for young, powerful characters.

The sidelocks are supposed to be like the skin of a water chestnut, split into strips.

And now for the costume.

Yes.

Kabuki costumes are supposed to express the character,

and this red costume with rivets is always for a strong, self-confident character.

Then the kimono on top has a pattern of an anchor rope, since Watonai was originally a fisherman.

Ta-dah! He's a powerful protagonist.

Yes! Everything's ready.

Great!

That "kumadori" was so impressive, all the tapping and swishing!

A Kabuki actor has to be their own professional make-up artist!

Yes, we do!

And we've been learning it since we were children.

That's amazing.

Now the play starring Watonai, where does "The Battles of Coxinga" begin?

Watonai's father is a Chinese exiled to Japan.

He was originally a retainer to the Ming emperor.

Watonai's mother is Japanese.

The Ming Empire has been conquered.

When Watonai's parents hear this news, all three of them travel to China.

That's the scene we'll start with.

This is the hero Watonai.

He has come to China with his Chinese father and his Japanese mother.

This is the "Lion Fortress" at Red Cliff.

When his father left China, he left his daughter behind.

She is now the wife of Kanki, the general commanding this fortress.

Watonai and his family want Kanki to be their ally in restoring the Ming Dynasty.

I want to speak privately to General Kanki.

Open the gate!

The coming of these foreigners alarms the soldiers.

This is Ro Ikkan's daughter, Kinshojo.

But since Kanki is out, the law forbids her to let anyone into the fortress.

I am your father Tei Shiryu, now my name is Ro Ikkan.

Our secret request is so important that we will suffer any humiliation for it.

Kinshojo was only two when her father left.

But she has a picture of him, and she compares the features and realizes that it is indeed her father.

She weeps with joy and longing.

But the law is strict, and she can only gaze at him from the top of the gate.

Tie up the old woman!

The soldiers say that the only one that can be let in is the old woman.

And she must be tied up.

This woman must be honored as the mother of your princess!

We don’t need to enter the fortress. Mother, let’s go!

Watonai is pretty angry.

But his mother scolds him.

Have you forgotten?

No difficulty, no humiliation is too great for the sake of a great mission.

She says that if the only way she can enter the fortress

is if she is tied up, she will be happy to do so.

I see.

But Watonai loves and honors his mother, and this shameful treatment is almost more than he can bear.

If your request is refused, I will pour red make-up in the river.

Kinshojo says if her husband agrees, she will pour white make-up into the river.

If the answer is "no," the make-up will be red.

Fingers crossed things go well!

So, Watonai and his father retreat for the moment.

But the soldiers attack them as people from a foreign land.

Watonai defeats all of them in an instant.

Then, Watonai exits with the "tobi roppo" jump-step.

This is an "aragoto" technique.

Ah, so it all comes down to whether or not Kanki will join forces.

Yes, that's right.

And your final "tobi roppo!"

Yes!

That was spectacular.

Really? Well, thank you very much.

There are various types of "roppo," and you see two versions during this play.

Two? Is that unusual?

Yes, most plays only use one type of "roppo," but this has two.

Wow, what a treat!

Kanki returns to his fortress.

Kinshojo immediately introduces Watonai's mother.

The only man who can be Watonai’s ally is you, General Kanki.

I beg you to lend him your strength.

I would like to agree immediately, but there is something I must do first.

Kanki then does something very shocking.

What? Kanki is about to stab her!

Yes. If Kanki is going to be their ally, it must not seem that it is because of his wife, so he must kill her first.

What?! Is that really necessary?

Yes.

Is it a Chinese custom to kill your wife when someone makes a request?

Kinshojo, there is virtue in the blade of the husband about to kill you.

There is mercy in the words of your mother.

You must choose between virtue and mercy!

Even though Watonai's mother is all tied up, she does everything in her power to protect Kinshojo.

Yes, but Kinshojo is also eager to sacrifice herself, if it is for the sake of her father.

So Kanki can't get to Kinshojo, because her mother is in the way.

Yes.

Without your mother’s permission to kill you, Watonai and I are on enemy sides.

This stream flows into the Yellow River.

White make-up means "yes." Red make-up means "no."

I must go and prepare the red make-up to pour into the stream.

It looks like Kinshojo's life was spared, but now they don't have Kanki as an ally.

Yes.

Now Kinshojo has no choice but to prepare the red make-up, that means their request has been refused.

Oh no!

Wow! I wasn't expecting that at all!

Really?

They weren't able to get Kanki on their side, and on top of that, poor Kinshojo, how loyal of her!

Yes.

But what surprised me the most was the mother.

I mean, my image of the stepmother-daughter relationship isn't really a friendly one.

But in this case, she goes out of her way to even save her life!

She believes that allowing her stepdaughter's death would be a stain on Japan.

Mmm, what high standards and morals she has!

Yes.

Well, Watonai doesn't appear in this scene, so do you get a chance to relax a bit backstage?

No, Not at all, I'm afraid!

In preparation for the big finale, I'm rushing to change my make-up and my costume.

So a quick change and different make-up too?

Yes, Watonai gets more and more powerful.

Wow! Can't wait for the transformation!

So now, we're back in your dressing room.

Are you changing your "kumadori?"

I'm not changing it, I'm actually adding lines to it.

There are more red lines, and they are thicker.

Does this mean the character's emotions are heightened?

That's exactly right.

There are a lot of lines or "suji," so this "kumadori" is called "suji guma."

Mmm.

Yes, it does have a bigger impact.

Well, thank you.

And a different wig too!

Yes. It's as though all his hair is standing on end, he's so angry.

The entire wig is in the shape of the shell of a water chestnut.

Now what do you think this is?

It's an "obi" sash.

Wait! That's an "obi"?!

Yes, it is.

It's extremely difficult to tie this "obi," as you can see.

They're even using their feet.

Yes, it takes four people to tie it.

And it weighs eight kilograms.

Eight kilograms?!

Yes, and you can't tie it in the usual way.

How strenuous!

Yes.

The sword I carry changes as well.

It gradually gets bigger.

Finally, it's the sword on the top.

Watch for that in the last section of the play.

OK.

So, all done now!

Yes, everything's complete.

Let's watch the last part of the play.

Deep in the night, Watonai is on top of a stone bridge, with a torch.

He watches the river intently.

He sees red coming down the stream.

Kanki has refused.

The river flows with red!

Now Kanki is my enemy.

I cannot leave my precious mother with him!

I will burst into the fortress!

Now that Kanki will not be his ally, Watonai is afraid that his mother will become a hostage.

He rushes to go rescue her.

Watonai's make-up and costume are even more fierce now, and he is fighting the soldiers from the fortress.

Yes, that's right.

You can really feel his adrenaline from here!

This shows a powerful hero, and these acting and staging techniques are called "aragoto."

The audience can really get into it and channel the energy.

Yes.

Then he exits with another, different "tobi roppo."

Ah! This is it.

Yes.

When Watonai gets to Kanki's fortress, he rescues his mother, and finally confronts Kanki.

Now, is this the biggest sword?

Yes, it is!

Kanki, you bearded Chinese!

I left my precious mother with you because I trusted you and wanted you as my ally.

Will you fight on my side or not?

I will not make an alliance out of partiality to my wife.

Go back to Japan!

I’ll take your head back to Japan as a souvenir!

Then the dying Kinshojo emerges.

She has stabbed herself in the chest.

Everyone is shocked to learn that what she poured into the river was not red make-up, but her own blood.

Mother said letting me be killed would be Japan’s shame.

Kanki, if I was the obstacle that would be China’s shame; be my brother’s ally!

Now with his wife's death, Kanki can become Watonai's ally, since it's clear that it is out of virtue.

Kanki will regard Watonai as his commanding general, and gives him the title of Coxinga and the name Tei Seikou.

Watonai has changed into Chinese clothing.

Yes.

Now the greatest heroes of Japan and China are standing side by side.

What? Not the mother too!

That's right.

Though they aren't related by blood, if only Kinshojo died, that would be a stain on Japan's virtue.

May my death give you more courage to fight against the enemy that caused it.

Both Kinshojo and Watonai's mother are just so pure and loyal.

Yes, it's very poignant.

Then Watonai and Kanki join together to restore the Ming Emperor.

Ah!

Gosh, I assumed it was a story about men going to war,

but it was the women and their actions that really surprised me.

Why they felt that way?

Yes, I mean, to be honest, I can't really relate...

You can't?

I mean, I can't relate to their actions, but that's what makes it even more heart-wrenching.

I see.

They manifest the "bushido" spirit of sacrifice and duty.

I mean, I feel that the women are the true heroines here, which was a pleasant surprise.

Do you like plays like this?

Love it!

I'm glad to hear that!

Now this is fiction, right?

What happened to the actual, historical Tei Seikou?

He fought the Qing dynasty to restore the Ming empire, but couldn't win.

He traveled to Taiwan in the end, where he set up an independent government.

And I believe you visited Taiwan the month after you played Watonai.

I did, yes.

Tainan, in the southwest, reveres Tei Seikou.

Is he considered by the locals to be a hero?

Absolutely.

Everyone knows his name, and there are monuments to him all over.

Wow! What surprised me was that such an old play was set overseas, and that the heroes and heroines were foreigners.

And, on top of that, the women are viewed as being so noble, and...

the world of Kabuki never ceases to amaze me!

I'm happy to hear it!

Gets me every time!

Well, that's good!

OK now, we have a question today from our viewer.

Wonderful!

This is from a young man, who lives in Germany; his name is Yuri.

Hi, Yuri.

Hello, KABUKI KOOL. I’m Yuri. I’m 11 years old.

My favorite Kabuki plays are "Yotsuya Kaidan," "Kasane" and "Kuzunoha."

What are your favorite Kabuki plays?

Wow, I'm impressed you like such difficult plays at only 11!

And all of them are a little scary, and they have a lot of horror elements.

Maybe that means that you like scary stories a whole lot?

Personally, I like plays with spectacular fight scenes, or where we use actual water on stage.

They always get a great reaction from our audience.

Don’t forget to visit our website.

You can find lots of information on Kabuki, and now you can also view video digests of our show.

Don’t forget to send us your questions and comments.

Are you ready for our ending?

Of course!

OK, here we go!

Hear ye!

That's all for today!