Kabuki Dancer by Sawako Ariyoshi

Author:Sawako Ariyoshi [Ariyoshi, Sawako]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kodansha International
Published: 1994-04-24T17:00:00+00:00

One stifling morning at the very end of summer they were resting in the theater when Mame ran in saying that Fushimi Castle was being attacked. “They say war has started again.”

At last, the jockeying for advantage between Tokugawa Ieyasu and supporters of Hideyori was at an end. Upon hearing that the Lord of Aizu had declared himself for Hideyori, Ieyasu led a large army of foot soldiers and mounted warriors from Osaka Castle and began marching north toward Aizu. Allies of Ieyasu raised another 70,000 men and waited in Edo. Ieyasu’s armies were now three weeks’ march to the north of Kyoto. It was the opportunity Hideyori’s supporters had been waiting for. Minister Ishida Mitsunari, Hideyori’s most forceful advocate among the Council of Five Ministers, ordered his troops to attack Fushimi Castle. It was now only lightly defended and certain to fall.

“Who’s inside the castle?”

“Retainers of Lord Ieyasu.”

“And who’s attacking the castle?”

“Lots of soldiers from western Japan. More are on the way.”

“They’re against Lord Ieyasu?”

“They support the Lord of the Realm, Prince Hideyori.”

“Will they capture the castle?”

“Nobody knows. They might, they have Southern Barbarian guns. They aren’t doing anything yet, just sitting outside shooting into the castle.”

For ten days the western army gradually consolidated its position for the final assault. There were feints and skirmishes along the outer walls to test the castle defenses. The defenders were called on to surrender, with no result. Had members of the troupe looked up they would have noticed that traffic across the bridge was heavier than usual. Hardly anyone was coming into the riverbed to see them perform.

Finally, Okuni announced that she was going to Fushimi. The girls looked frightened, but Sankuro and Densuke immediately agreed.

“Yes, let’s watch the battle.”

Early in the afternoon of September 7, 1600, Okuni, Sankuro, and Densuke changed into inconspicuous clothes, packed some food, and started walking south toward Fushimi. The castle was only a few miles from where their theater stood on the east side of the Kamo River next to Shijo Street. Okiku and Omatsu followed at a safe distance. Their plan was not as dangerous as it might seem; for they knew the area well, having lived at Kanbei’s house. Fushimi Castle was separated from the town by forests and a hill. Taking back streets and seldom-used paths so they wouldn’t be seen, they arrived in the late afternoon and climbed to the top of the hill. Several hundred townspeople were sitting on the grass, as if picnicking. Looking down, they could see the castle and the soldiers surrounding it. Muskets were going off constantly. They followed the path of fire arrows arcing high and then falling inside the castle grounds. Smoke and fire rose from the Western Tower. Soon masses of soldiers, looking like columns of ants, swarmed up and over the castle walls. A part of the Inner Citadel crumbled and slid into a moat like an avalanche of snow. Defenders on the ramparts were cut and pierced by attacking soldiers. They toppled off the walls, making slow cartwheels in the air.

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