The Demon of Mount Togakushi and the Princess・Momijigari EXPLAINED (1887)

Momijigari (“Viewing the Autumn Foliage“) is a dance-drama written by the playwright Kawatake Mokuami, and first performed in October 1887 at the Shintomi-za theatre in Tokyo. The actor Ichikawa Danjūrō IX, in addition to creating the choreography, played the role of Princess Sarashina, while Taira no Koremochi was played by Ichikawa Sadanji I. An extended version of this video will be available later today or tomorrow in our Patreon, including footage which didn’t make it into the final cut: And you can read the wonderful English translation by Richard Emmert and Alan Cummings in the book “Kabuki Plays on Stage Vol 4: Restoration and Reform“: Special thanks to the Patreon members who make these videos possible, including C. H. White, Eric Pan, SuperGingernutz, calvin, Valerie and Tina Draughon!