He appeared suddenly.
2 Years Ago
Fair skin, long eyelashes, shiny hair.
Newcomer, introduce yourself.
I am Oniyasha, an actor from the Kanze Troupe!
Nice to meetcha, all!
"Meetcha, all"?
Meetcha? What?
Let's go.
Okay.
I thought he was beautiful.
It's been 25 years since the shogun called us, the Dengaku Shinza,
to his residence.
Dengaku is an art that developed
from the rice planting ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest.
It gets people very excited,
and has been historically well-loved by generations of emperors.
Oh...
We keep the tradition of Dengaku alive.
You've really got a knack for that, Chiharu.
Th-thank y-
It doesn't do the troupe any good for women to learn the skills.
She should be doing laundry or something.
I'm gonna pummel you!
Ow!
You're in the middle of practicing. No time to pummel anyone.
Ha, you got in trou-
Ouch! Why'd you hit me?!
Chiharu has talent. That's what counts.
It doesn't matter what some incompetent schmuck says.
Although, she's not the slightest bit womanly.
Huh?!
Wow!
They're getting really excited!
That's what Zojiro does.
Found the monkey!
Back to steal Zojiro's techniques again, are ya?!
With your Sarugaku monkey-dance!
And you talk funny, too!
W-w-wait!
I know! I have an idea! I'll let you watch me practice too!
Chiharu.
I'm gonna pummel you too!
Monkey!
Come get some!
Monkey!
Where'd he go?!
He ran that away!
I'm gonna pummel him!
Gosh... Same thing day after day, eh?
Dengaku seems to be in fairly good shape.
We don't hear much about Oniyasha's exploits, though.
He's getting stage time, so that's not the problem.
Dengaku Shinza and Sarugaku Kanze...
There are two troupes here now.
Even if it's to show your prestige, this probably isn't cost-effective.
Hm?
There's no guarantee the arts that persist today will continue to do so.
Now then...
Which one will survive?
I found him!
Monkey!
Please help me!
If one can't bloom, then it was simply never meant to be.
The traditional arts are indeed like flowers.
They are something fleeting, that fluctuates with the flow of time.
However, nothing blooms as big or beautiful as a flower that has been tenderly cared for.
Isn't that your forte?
Trendy performance arts have a tremendous power
to resonate with the public's hearts and minds.
I have no creative ability myself,
but you can't make anything without some elbow grease!
And I can gladly help with that!
You're having an important conversation right now.
Eh?
Nariko made me attend an all-night poetry reading...
And then,
that Lord Yoshimitsu dozed off partway through.
Good grief, it's like he doesn't realize I wrote them for him!
Monkey!
Oh?
Chiharu?
My lady!
I-I-I apologize for interrupting your practice! Especially in such a slovenly state!
Ah, day after day, Lady Nariko is just...
so beautiful!
The poems she composes herself are the most elegant and shine so brilliantly!
I can't read them, though!
Chiharu?
I can't read them, though!
Chiharu?
H-have you seen Oniyasha of the Kanze Troupe?
Now that you mention it,
he ran that way.... perhaps.
Thank you!
Lady Nariko! Lady Nariko!
You shouldn't lie.
It's alright!
I did say "perhaps", after all.
Thank you so much.
It's nothing!
Sir, thank you. He needs his play time.
Fuga is the shogun's dog, right?
They dump all the responsibility on us, but the Shinza troupe...
should help too!
I don't understand!
Why do the people of Shinza Troupe treat us like enemies?!
They won't even make eye contact when we're on stage together!
These things happen. Everyone's busy.
We're way more busy than they are!
Cleaning, laundry, preparing meals, and even taking care of Fuga!
If you hadn't come with me, I'd be so gloomy!
Well, there are times when common chores can take up people's entire day...
Okay, I've decided!
Today I'll do only what I want to do!
Let's go, Ishiya!
Please wait, Sir!
P-pardon me, Fuga. If you don't mind I'll just...
My apologies.
Hey, there are more books here than before!
"The King of Farts" and "The Voyage of Yoshitsune"...
How do you get these with no money?
Oh yeah! You haven't seen it yet, huh?
Huh?
They just fall from the sky, like this!
Wha?
Yay! "The Tale of Karaito"!
I'll bring this home with me!
Eh?!
What is happening?
Stupendous! It landed right by Lord Fujiwaka!
Such splendid skill!
Yes, My Lord!
Ah, beautiful Fujiwaka...
You once again do not notice me.
Is this just part of being a fan?
Ah, how very frustrating!
Wait, don't turn the page yet.
Ishiya, you read slow.
What?! Your hair is in the way!
Oh?
Wow! "The Tale of Karaito"!
My Lady!
So the both of you can read, then!
Yes, we can!
Y-yes...
Per the wishes of Kan'ami,
we went to a temple to study when we were little.
I see. The two of you grew up together, huh?
By the way...
Are you interested in poetry?
Poetry?
Yes! I compose poetry!
But we have practice to do...
There's more to practice than just dancing, isn't there?
Um...
Artistry is the result of different styles influencing each other.
Both writing poems and reading stories should be connected to dance.
Here!
This is for you.
Are you sure?
Of course!
Hm?
Thank you very much!
That boy...
Seriously?!
I can't believe this!
Who does that boy think he is?!
I'm so angry!
Grr!
So what if he's got a pretty face and knows how to read and write?!
How dare he steal all the attention from my Lady Nariko!
I'll show him!
Okay.
I'm going in!
Mm-hm...
I see...
And then what?
I can't read this.
Pretty...
Where'd it go?
No way!
What do I do?
Is someone there?
A-are you okay?
Is something wrong?
No!
Huh?!
Stay away!
I-I wasn't going to do anything.
Hey you.
What did you do to my little sister?!
I-I didn't know she was your sister!
Ishiya's late.
The sun will set before Fuga gets his walk...
Huh? Whoa!
Where are you going, Fuga?!
Let go, Chiharu!
Wait, Inomaru!
You're mistaken! There's been a misunderstanding!
No excuses!
Any troupe with scum who puts their hands on my sister...
will get kicked out of this residence!
Get out of here!
Wait!
Sir!
I don't know what happened, but let Ishiya go!
S-sorry about that.
Why you little...
You're gonna get it now!
And now it's...
time to retreat!
Think you can run, monkey?!
Whoa, hey, what's happened?!
It's all my fault.
Hey! Don't come barreling into me!
Eh?! The hell'd you just say?!
You two quit fighting and go catch that brat!
Everyone please, calm down!
Hey, is he alright?
He's still alive, right?
Got your butt kicked pretty bad there, eh Hijiri?
It's...
It's the shogun!
Disputes are perfectly fine. However...
What is your job here?!
Performers, correct?
So if you want to fight,
then do it on a stage, as performers should!
Now then,
shall we go and tend to some flowers?
It says there will be a dance competition.
And the theme is...
Lion Dance
the lion dance.
Dengaku is tops when it comes to the lion dance!
We're basically guaranteed to win this!
The loser forfeits the patronage of the shogun and their troupe will be disbanded.
This is the perfect opportunity to trample Sarugaku.
With Zojiro dancing, Sarugaku won't stand a chance!
Get those monkeys outta here!
What's wrong, Chiharu?
Yeah, let's do it!
What's wrong, Chiharu?
Yeah, let's do it!
Let's take a little break.
Thanks for all of your help, Yoichi!
Well, I didn't want to get pummeled by a certain someone.
But I must say, I'm impressed.
I can't believe you just started learning this a few days ago.
Sir, what's wrong?
Well, um... er...
It's natural that you'd be concerned about dancing with someone from Dengaku.
But I give you my word as a proud Shinza troupe member,
I will not do anything as cowardly as ruining your performance.
Oh, I'm not worried about that...
It's something else.
I'm no better than an average lion dance like this.
Zojiro would perform a more intense dance...
I have to do a much bigger lion dance
like no one's ever seen before.
Huh?
Kamekichi?! Where are you?
Kamekichi?
A cat...
I'm right here.
Kamekichi!
Lion...
Cat...
Lion...
Cat...
Lion...
Cat...
Lion...
Cat...
That's it!
And I came all the way here to apologize, too.
Jeez, where'd he go?
A kitty! How cute...
Huh?
Meow!
Meow?!
Mrow!
This might do it...!
I can't believe how big of a deal this turned into...
Yoichi, my apologies.
Please don't take this personally.
Are you sure you want do it alone?
There's something I want to try.
The winner of this dance competition will be determined by 12 judges.
Three court nobles, three samurai,
and six townspeople.
Wonderful idea, letting the common folk spectate!
I know!
Now then, shall we begin?
We will now have Dengaku Shinza Troupe's Zojiro
and Sarugaku Kanze Troupe's Oniyasha,
perform a ritual dance for the competition!
First up, Kanze Troupe's Oniyasha!
Begin!
What the heck is that?
He's not doing the lion dance?
What are you doing, Oniyasha?
What was that?
That was amazing... right?
Most astonishing!
Oniyasha, you love dancing, don't you?
Next is Dengaku Shinza's Zojiro!
People cannot enjoy performances that aren't suited to the place and time.
Let's do this.
Right!
Now there's the lion dance we know!
Yes! We were waiting for this!
It's just the normal lion dance...?
What is Zojiro doing?
And now, we will announce the results of the dance competition
between Dengaku Shinza Troupe's Zojiro,
and Saragaku Kanze Troupe's Oniyasha!
Zojiro stuck to the regular lion dance the entire time.
Why?
I thought Zojiro would have something extra to show...
From the three court nobles: one vote for Zojiro, and two votes for Oniyasha.
Next, from the three samurai: two votes for Zojiro, one vote for Oniyasha.
Yeah!
Finally, from the six townspeople:
five votes for Zojiro, one vote for Oniyasha.
Therefore, the winner of this dance competition is...
Dengaku Shinza Troupe's Zojiro!
Why...
Why?
I have two things to ask you.
Number one, who were you trying to dance for?
I did the lion dance for the audience,
but you never even thought about who was going to watch
and just danced for your own benefit.
And number two, why did you perform a new lion dance?
Doing something new isn't bad, but...
you insulted the artistic history that rides on your shoulders.
You arrogantly believed your take was superior to tradition.
It happened to look a little interesting to some of the spectators,
but that was not because of your ability.
It's because they have good taste.
Have you learned nothing from being in the Kanze Troup?
Or is this just the best Kanze has to offer?
Kanze...
They have nothing to do with this.
It's just... I was...
How aggravating.
This wasn't a real competition to begin with.
Will the new never prevail over the old?
However...
Innovation is a flower.
What was that?
And its bud is surely
beginning to quietly sprout.
Episode 5
A Budding Throb
Kazuto Mihara / Kodansha