February/2019
Japanese is following after English.
The story of son and mother, Ushiwakaru (son) and Tokiwa gozen (mother).
Sad and disastrous heart story. Edo's superb epic entertainment animation has revived here.
When Ushiwakamaru (1159-1189), the son of noble Genji family, is a 15-year-old in spring, he leaves from Kurama temple in Kyoto for planning wiping out arrogant Heike family, and goes on a journey to the east of Japan, TOHOKU region. Finally he is welcomed into the palace of Hidenori Fujiwara in Hiraizumi Oshu, where the glory is overwhelming.
On the other hand, Tokiwagozen (1138-????), Ushiwakamaru's mother, is in the capital of Kyoto. She is in despair because she lost sight of her son of Ushiwakamaru.
She wishes a reunion with Ushiwakamaru and has repeatedly visited temples and shrines for praying but can't have any result. She lives with grieve, but on one Autumn day she received a letter from Ushiwakamaru in Hiraizumi.
She arrives at Yamanaka lodging in Mino region through crossing rivers, crossing passes, through several hotels. It may because of the tiredness of a long journey, or of the heart that thinks of Ushiwakamaru deeply, she lose herself in a serious illness.
Thieves of this hotel have been wanting to have beautiful kimono of Tokiwa and her servant, they came into the room, and robbed of all they have.
Tokiwa shouts, "With human feelings, leaving only the undergarment that hides my skin, otherwise take my life," but the thieves stabbed Tokiwa.
A chamberlain follows also the same fate.
At that time, Ushiwaka maru in Hiraizumi feels uneasy with his mother Tokiwa appearing in his dream repeatedly, and he takes a trip to Kyoto.
On the way, Ushiwakamaru has encountered the grave of his mother Tokiwa without knowing it at Yamanaka lodging.
He can't leave from that place without any reasons, and he stays in the Yamanaka lodging that day.
Strangely the hotel where Ushiwakamaru stayed is the hotel where Tokiwa was killed last night.
Tokiwa appears in Ushiwakamaru's dream that night, and tells him that she wants him to revenge.
Ushiwakamaru heard from the owner of the hotel about the incident, decides to revenge of his mother.
Ushiwakamaru led the thief with the assistance of the wife of the hotel, captured the six bandits brilliantly, and holds a memorial service for his mother.
And he goes back to Hiraizumi again.
After three years and three months, Ushiwakamaru has changed his name to Yoshitsune after coming of age, who became a fine young samurai warrior, departed Hiraizum with the army of over 100,000 cavalry, aiming for the suppression of Heike family.
On that way, Yoshitsune (Ushiwakamaru) has stopped by the hotel in Yamanaka lodging, visited the grave of Tokiwa, and crying in tears of his mother.
And they called the couple of the hotel, and gives the territory as a reward of old times.
悲と惨の極み。江戸の超大作娯楽アニメが、ここに蘇った。
源氏の御曹司牛若丸は、15歳の春のころ、奢る平家を討伐せんと鞍馬寺を抜け出し東への旅に出る。そして、栄華を極める奥州、平泉の藤原秀衡の館へと迎え入れられた。
一方、京の都にいる牛若丸の母、常盤御前は、我が子を見失い悲しみに沈んでいた。
牛若丸との再会を願い神仏にお参りを重ねるも何の御利益もなく、嘆き暮らしていたある秋の日、平泉の牛若丸からの手紙が届く。
常盤ははやる気持ちを押さえ、春を待ち、侍従１人を供として、平泉への旅にでたのだった。
川を渡り、峠を越え、いくつもの宿場を過ぎ、美濃の国、山中宿までたどり着いた常盤だったが、長旅の疲れからか、牛若丸を想う心からか、重い病に臥せってしまう。
そこに美しい着物に目をつけたこの宿の盗賊どもが宿に押し寄せ、常盤と侍従をみぐるみはがしてしまう。
常盤は、「肌を隠す下着だけでも残すのが人の情け、さもなくば命も奪え」と叫ぶが、盗賊は常盤を刺し殺してしまう。
侍従も同じ運命をたどる。
その頃、平泉にいる牛若丸は、母の常盤がくり返し夢にうつつに現れるのに胸騒ぎがし、都へ向けて旅立った。
その途中、山中宿でそれとは知らずに母の常盤のお墓に遭遇した牛若丸。
なぜがその場を離れがたく、その日は山中宿に泊まる。
牛若丸が泊まった宿は奇しくも昨晩常盤の殺されたそのお宿。
その晩、牛若丸の夢枕に常盤が立ち、あだ討ちしてほしいと告げる。
宿の主人からことの次第を知らされた牛若丸は、母の仇を討つ決意をする。
牛若丸は、やどの女房の助力で盗賊をたばかりよせ、見事6人の盗賊を討ち取り、母の供養とした。
そしてまた平泉に戻っていったのだった。
その後3年3ヶ月が過ぎたころ、立派な若武者となった義経は、十万余騎の軍勢をひきつれて平家討伐を目指し、平泉を出発した。
その道中、山中の宿に立ち寄った義経は、常盤の墓にお参りし、母を偲んで涙する。
そして、宿の夫婦を呼び出して、昔のお礼に領地を与えたのだった。