Changes

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.