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''Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba'' is a [[kabuki]] ''[[sewamono]]'' play by [[Chikamatsu Tokuzo|Chikamatsu Tokuzô]], [[Tatsuoka Mansaku]], and [[Namiki Shozo II|Namiki Shôzô II]], which debuted on [[1796]]/7/25 at the [[Kado no Shibai]] in [[Osaka]]. The title roughly translates as "The Ise Dances and Love's Dull Blade"<ref>Jones. p319.</ref>, though it has been given the English titles "The Quest of Shimosaka"<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/theatre/departmental/Maile/EVENTS.history.PDF Theatrical Events at the University of Hawaii]. University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance. Accessed 20 November 2010.</ref> and "The Vengeful Sword"<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/theatre/stage/stage00.htm Kennedy Theatre 2010-2011]. University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance. Accessed 20 November 2010.</ref> as well.

''Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba'' is a [[kabuki]] ''[[sewamono]]'' play by [[Chikamatsu Tokuzo|Chikamatsu Tokuzô]], [[Tatsuoka Mansaku]], and [[Namiki Shozo II|Namiki Shôzô II]], which debuted on [[1796]]/7/25 at the [[Kado no Shibai]] in [[Osaka]]. The title roughly translates as "The Ise Dances and Love's Dull Blade"<ref>Jones. p319.</ref>, though it has been given the English titles "The Quest of Shimosaka"<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/theatre/departmental/Maile/EVENTS.history.PDF Theatrical Events at the University of Hawaii]. University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance. Accessed 20 November 2010.</ref> and "The Vengeful Sword"<ref>[http://www.hawaii.edu/theatre/stage/stage00.htm Kennedy Theatre 2010-2011]. University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance. Accessed 20 November 2010.</ref> as well.

The play takes place primarily at the [[Aburaya]], a house of assignation in the town of [[Furuichi]]<ref>Today part of Ise City.</ref> near [[Ise Shrine]], and features a cursed [[Shimosaka]] sword which, once it is drawn, must taste blood. The hero, Mitsugi, aids Manjirô, in searching for his family's heirloom Shimosaka sword, and eventually finds it at the Aburaya, which they both frequent. Through the machinations of the teahouse's proprietess or chief maid, Manno, Mitsugi finds himself dumped by his lover, Okon. Taunted by Manno to strike her with his scabbard to express his anger with her, he does so, but the scabbard splits, and the sword cuts the woman's neck; the curse is never explicitly discussed at all in the play, but Mitsugi is possessed by it, and goes on a killing spree, killing nearly everyone in the brothel.

The play takes place primarily at the [[Aburaya]], a house of assignation in the town of [[Furuichi]]<ref>Today part of Ise city.</ref> near [[Ise shrine]], and features a cursed [[Shimosaka]] sword which, once it is drawn, must taste blood. The hero, Mitsugi, aids Manjirô, in searching for his family's heirloom Shimosaka sword, and eventually finds it at the Aburaya, which they both frequent. Through the machinations of the teahouse's proprietess or chief maid, Manno, Mitsugi finds himself dumped by his lover, Okon. Taunted by Manno to strike her with his scabbard to express his anger with her, he does so, but the scabbard splits, and the sword cuts the woman's neck; the curse is never explicitly discussed at all in the play, but Mitsugi is possessed by it, and goes on a killing spree, killing nearly everyone in the brothel.

''Ise Ondo'' is a summer play, both set during the summer and traditionally performed during the summer, when it is believed the chills the audience feels at the horror of the bloodbath will cool them off. Most of the characters wear summer ''[[yukata]]'', and visual and verbal references are made to the summer heat.

''Ise Ondo'' is a summer play, both set during the summer and traditionally performed during the summer, when it is believed the chills the audience feels at the horror of the bloodbath will cool them off. Most of the characters wear summer ''[[yukata]]'', and visual and verbal references are made to the summer heat.

Like many ''sewamono'', the play is based on a real incident, in this case a mass murder which occurred in the fifth month that same year. A local doctor by the name of Magofuku Itsuki (age 27), sparked by jealousy, went on a drunken killing spree in the Aburaya, a local Furuichi brothel. It ended with three dead and six wounded; among those killed was a maid by the name of Oman (note that the chief maid or proprietess of the Aburaya in the play is named Manno). Itsuki committed suicide two days later at the home of his uncle, a low-ranking Ise Shrine priest. His lover, the courtesan Okon (age 16 at the time), died of illness at age 49.<ref>"[http://www.dairinji.com/abura.htm Aburaya sôdô]." Dairinji Homepage. 2008. Accessed 22 November 2010.</ref>

Like many ''sewamono'', the play is based on a real incident, in this case a mass murder which occurred in the fifth month that same year. A local doctor by the name of Magofuku Itsuki (age 27), sparked by jealousy, went on a drunken killing spree in the Aburaya, a local Furuichi brothel. It ended with three dead and six wounded; among those killed was a maid by the name of Oman (note that the chief maid or proprietess of the Aburaya in the play is named Manno). Itsuki committed suicide two days later at the home of his uncle, a low-ranking Ise shrine priest. His lover, the courtesan Okon (age 16 at the time), died of illness at age 49.<ref>"[http://www.dairinji.com/abura.htm Aburaya sôdô]." Dairinji Homepage. 2008. Accessed 22 November 2010.</ref>

Though ''Ise Ondo'' is said to have been written in three days, making it an ''[[ichiyazuke]]'' or "pickled overnight" play, it in fact debuted roughly two and a half months after the incident, and after a [[jishibai|local rural theatre]] in Matsuzaka had already begun showing a play based on the event.

Though ''Ise Ondo'' is said to have been written in three days, making it an ''[[ichiyazuke]]'' or "pickled overnight" play, it in fact debuted roughly two and a half months after the incident, and after a [[jishibai|local rural theatre]] in Matsuzaka had already begun showing a play based on the event.

==Characters==

==Characters==

*Manjirô - a low-ranking Ise Shrine priest, who has lost the sword and is seeking it (''[[nimaime]]'')

*Manjirô - a low-ranking Ise shrine priest, who has lost the sword and is seeking it (''[[nimaime]]'')

*Mitsugi - a samurai in the service of Manjirô's father (''[[pintokona]]'')

*Mitsugi - a samurai in the service of Manjirô's father (''[[pintokona]]'')

*Okon - a courtesan; Mitsugi's lover

*Okon - a courtesan; Mitsugi's lover