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Kanu (Kan-u)
The Kabuki Eighteen
Kanu (Kan-u)

Kagekiyo learns that the evil Noriyori, Lord of Mikawa is planning to usurp power. Dressed as the legendary Chinese warrior Chohi (Zhang Fei), he bursts into Noriyoriís palace. There he encounters Hatakeyama Shigetada, mounted on a white horse and disguised as another Chinese warrior, Kanu (Guan Yu). The two collaborate to take on Noriyori. The piece is played in aragoto style and distinguished by Kanuís colorful Chinese costume, long beard, and the Chinese broadsword he brandishes. The piece is very rarely performed, but was revived in 1985 by Onoe Shoroku II with a script by Tobe Ginsaku.

Premiere : Eleventh month, 1737
Original title : The Leap Month & The Virtue of Kagekiyo (Uruzuki ni Nin Kagekiyo)
Actor : Danjuro II
Theatre : Kawarazaki-za, Edo
Text : Hattori Yukio, Ichikawa Danjuro Daidai. Tokyo: Kodansha, 2002.
Prints : Collection of the National Diet Library
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