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[[Image:弁天小僧2sm.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Yakusha-e|Woodblock print]] depicting [[Onoe Kikugoro]] as Benten Kozô.]]
*''Genre: [[Shiranamimono]], [[Kizewamono]]''
*''Genre: [[Shiranamimono]], [[Kizewamono]]''
*''Premiere: [[1862]]/3, [[Ichimura-za]], [[Edo]]''
*''Premiere: [[1862]]/3, [[Ichimura-za]], [[Edo]]''
*''Writer: [[Kawatake Mokuami]]''
*''Writer: [[Kawatake Mokuami]]''
*Japanese: 青砥稿花の錦絵 ''(Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishiki-e)''
*''Japanese'': 青砥稿花の錦絵 ''(Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishiki-e)''
"''Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishiki-e''", as the original and fullest version of this play is known, is a tale in five acts of the ''shiranamimono'' (tales of thieves) sub-category of the ''kizewamono'' (rough contemporary piece) genre of kabuki plays. Written by [[Kawatake Mokuami]], it first premiered at the [[Ichimura-za]] in [[Edo]] in the third month of 1862.
"''Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishiki-e''", as the original and fullest version of this play is known, is a tale in five acts of the ''shiranamimono'' (tales of thieves) sub-category of the ''kizewamono'' (rough contemporary piece) genre of kabuki plays. Written by [[Kawatake Mokuami]], it first premiered at the [[Ichimura-za]] in [[Edo]] in the third month of 1862.
The play is frequently known by a number of other names. The name "''Benten Kozô''" (弁天小僧) actually refers to the main character of the play, a ''[[gizoku]]'' (honorable thief), one of a band of five such men. Another common name for this play is "''Shiranami Gonin Otoko''" (Five Men of the White Waves), "''shiranami''" (white waves) being a term used to refer to thieves. Like most traditional Japanese dramas, the play originally had five acts, following particular conventions as to the dramatic pattern and themes of each act. However, today, it is very common to perform only one or two acts, each combination of acts represented by a different play title. For example the title "''Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami''" refers to the performance of Acts III and/or IV without the other three.
The play is frequently known by a number of other names. The name "''Benten Kozô''" (弁天小僧) actually refers to the main character of the play, a ''[[gizoku]]'' (honorable thief), one of a band of five such men. Another common name for this play is "''Shiranami Gonin Otoko''" (Five Men of the White Waves), "''shiranami''" (white waves) being a term used to refer to thieves. Like most traditional Japanese dramas, the play originally had five acts, following particular conventions as to the dramatic pattern and themes of each act. However, today, it is very common to perform only one or two acts, each combination of acts represented by a different play title. For example the title "''Benten Musume Meo no Shiranami''" refers to the performance of Acts III and/or IV without the other three.
The play centers around a band of five thieves, based on real thieves and criminals of [[Edo period]] [[Osaka]]: [[Karigane Bunshichi]], [[An no Heibei]], [[Gokuin Sen'emon]], [[Kaminari Shokuro|Kaminari Shôkurô]] and [[Hotei Ichiemon]]. The name of Nippon Daemon, the leader of the band, is taken from that of [[Nippon Saemon]], who was captured and executed in 1747.
The play centers around a band of five thieves, based on real thieves and criminals of [[Edo period]] [[Osaka]]: [[Karigane Bunshichi]], [[An no Heibei]], [[Gokuin Sen'emon]], [[Kaminari Shokuro|Kaminari Shôkurô]] and [[Hotei Ichiemon]]. The name of Nippon Daemon, the leader of the band, is taken from that of [[Nihonzaemon]], who was captured and executed in 1747.
The play is perhaps most famous for the speeches made by Kozô and his compatriots when they dramatically remove their disguises and reveal their true identities.
The play is perhaps most famous for the speeches made by Kozô and his compatriots when they dramatically remove their disguises and reveal their true identities.
==Characters==
==Characters==
[[Image:Bentenkozoposter.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Poster for a May 2008 performance at [[Kabuki-za]] starring [[Ichikawa Danjuro|Ichikawa Danjûrô XII]] as Nippon Daemon (left) and [[Onoe Kikugoro|Onoe Kikugorô VII]] as Benten Kozô (right).]]
*Benten Kozô Kikunosuke - a young thief
*Benten Kozô Kikunosuke - a young thief
*Nippon Daemon - leader of the band of thieves
*Nippon Daemon - leader of the band of thieves
*Princess Senju - a daughter of a powerful samurai or courtier
*Princess Senju - a daughter of a powerful samurai or courtier
*Hamamatsuya Kôbei - owner of a kimono/cloth shop
*Hamamatsuya Kôbei - owner of a kimono/cloth shop
*Hamamtasuya Sônosuke - Kôbei's son-in-law
*Hamamatsuya Sônosuke - Kôbei's son-in-law
==Plot==
==Plot==
The play opens upon a strikingly colorful scene of [[Kaikozan Hase-dera|Hase-dera]] at the height of [[sakura|cherry blossom]] season. Princess Senju, is praying at the temple for her late father and for Kotarô, her fiancee by an arranged marriage, who has gone missing.
The play opens upon a strikingly colorful scene of [[Kaikozan Hase-dera|Hase-dera]] at the height of [[sakura|cherry blossom]] season. Princess Senju, is praying at the temple for her late father and for Kotarô, her fiancee by an arranged marriage, who has gone missing.
Kotarô (actually Benten Kozô in disguise) then appears with an attendant (his fellow thief, Nangô Rikimaru in disguise), and the couple go into a nearby teahouse on the grounds; Senju has never before met Kotarô, and so has no reason to know what he should look like. Meanwhile, Akaboshi Jûzaburô, another thief, attempting to swindle money intended for the memorial service from members of Senju's party, is discovered. A scuffle erupts, and the group rush to the teahouse, where Benten Kozô is attempting to obtain from Senju a valuable gold incense burner which was a gift to her from Kotarô's family. Tadanobu Rihei, yet another thief, disguised as an anonymous [[ronin]], drives them away, and defuses the situation.
Kotarô (actually Benten Kozô in disguise) then appears with an attendant (his fellow thief, Nangô Rikimaru in disguise), and the couple go into a nearby teahouse on the grounds; Senju has never before met Kotarô, and so has no reason to know what he should look like. Meanwhile, Akaboshi Jûzaburô, another thief, attempting to swindle money intended for the memorial service from members of Senju's party, is discovered. A scuffle erupts, and the group rush to the teahouse, where Benten Kozô is attempting to obtain from Senju a valuable gold [[incense]] burner which was a gift to her from Kotarô's family. Tadanobu Rihei, yet another thief, disguised as an anonymous [[ronin]], drives them away, and defuses the situation.
Believing that it is somehow her possession of the incense burner which has brought such violence and trouble to her and her party, she gives it to "Kotarô" for safekeeping. The pair then leave the temple, for Mt. Mikoshi-ga-take, as Rihei and Rikimaru fight for the money, 100 ''[[ryo|ryô]]'', stolen from the memorial service.
Believing that it is somehow her possession of the incense burner which has brought such violence and trouble to her and her party, she gives it to "Kotarô" for safekeeping. The pair then leave the temple, for Mt. Mikoshi-ga-take, as Rihei and Rikimaru fight for the money, 100 ''[[ryo|ryô]]'', stolen from the memorial service.
*[http://kabuki21.com/gonin_otoko.php Shiranami Gonin Otoko at Kabuki21.com]
*[http://kabuki21.com/gonin_otoko.php Shiranami Gonin Otoko at Kabuki21.com]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Poetry and Theater]]
[[Category:Edo Period]]