' is a Japanese Noh play written in 1465 by Kanze Kojiro Nobumitsu. It has been described as a masterpiece of ''genzai noh'', a type of Noh play in which the story deals with events in the real world. It is also distinguished from the conventional Noh drama, which is noted for its focus on the idealized beauty of '' yugen'', through its use of songs and dances to highlight dramatic tension. Ataka, along with the two other mainstays of classic repertory of Noh - ''

Izutsu ' is a classic Noh play written by Zeami, the dominant figure in the early history of Noh theatre. ''Izutsu'' is based on an old story, ''Tsutsu-Izutsu'' (筒井筒), from the '' Ise monogatari'', a 10th-century collection of stories, many of ...

'' and ''Atsumori'' - had a continuous performance tradition that spanned five to six centuries. Kanze Nobumitsu was a playwright and actor from the

Muromachi period The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by ...

, and is considered one of the last important playwrights of the golden age of Noh. Some of his other famous plays are '' Momijigari'', '' Dōjōji'', '' Funa benkei'' and '' Rashōmon''. ''Ataka'' has served as the basis for several successful

kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought ...

plays, including ''

Kanjinchō ''Kanjinchō'' (勧進帳, ''The Subscription List'') is a kabuki dance-drama by Namiki Gohei III, based on the Noh play '' Ataka''. It is one of the most popular plays in the modern kabuki repertory. Belonging to the repertories of the Naritay ...

'', and the film '' The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail'', directed by Kurosawa Akira.

Synopsis

Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a military commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura periods. During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles which toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-brother Yoritomo cons ...

falls out of favor with his brother, the Shogun

Minamoto no Yoritomo was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1192 until 1199.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Minamoto no Yoriie" in . He was the husband of Hōjō Masako who acted as regent ('' shikken'') after h ...

, and escapes with his followers to Mutsu Province, disguised as priests. They head for a temple called Tōdai-ji (a local branch of the

Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year 752 CE. The temple has undergo ...

buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

temple in

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It ...

), but are stopped along the way by a suspicious guard. The recitation of a fake "subscription list that monks would normally carry" on a mission to rebuild the temple, by Yoshitsune's companion

Benkei , popularly known as simply Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk (''sōhei'') who lived in the latter years of the Heian Period (794–1185) ">/sup>. Benkei led a varied life, first becoming a monk, then a mountain ascetic, and then a rogue war ...

, convinces the guard to let them pass.

Influence

''Ataka'' was first adapted into

in ''

'' (1702)m, which was written by playwright Namiki Gohei III. This is in fact the first time a Noh play was adapted into kabuki.''Kabuki Plays on Stage II: Villainy and Vengeance, 1773-1799''. (2002) p. 244-245. This is considered a ''shosagoto'' or dance piece that eventually became part of the so-called "the eighteen favorites". The later version of ''

'' (1840) is one of the most often performed plays in the modern kabuki repertoire. Another famous kabuki adaptation of ''Ataka'' is '' Gohiiki Kanjinchō'' (1773), considered "a magnificent example of the flamboyantly masculine '' aragoto'' acting style".

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dy ...

's film '' The Men who Tread on the Tiger's Tail'' is partly based on ''Ataka''. Made in 1945, the film was banned by the occupying

Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It con ...

(SCAP) due to its portrayal of feudal values. It was later released after the signing of the

Treaty of San Francisco The , also called the , re-established peaceful relations between Japan and the Allied Powers on behalf of the United Nations by ending the legal state of war and providing for redress for hostile actions up to and including World War II. It w ...

in 1952.

References

{{reflist

External links

Noh Database

Noh plays 15th-century plays Buddhist plays Plays set in the 12th century