Senju
Summary
Taira no Shigehira was taken captive in the Battle of Ichinotani (1184) between the rivalling clans of Taira and Minamoto, and was sent to Kamakura, where he is placed under the custody of Kano-no-suke Munemochi.
Although a prisoner, Shigehira is a noble of the Taira clan, so Minamoto no Yoritomo treated him with courtesy and assigned the courtesan Senju from the station town of Tegoshi-juku to attend him.
At Yoritomo’s command, Senju visits the Munemochi residence again, carrying a biwa (lute) and a koto (zither), despite the rain. Shigehira had been expressing his wish to become a Buddhist priest, but Senju informs him that his request has been denied.
Shigehira laments his sins, regretting the burning of the temples in Nara and mourning his own fate as a captive of war.
To console Shigehira, Munemochi hosts a banquet. As Senju serves the drinks, Shigehira joins the banquet. Over time, he and Senju had nurtured an emotional bond. Senju recites a poem praying for Shigehira’s peaceful afterlife and performs a dance. Moved by the scene, Shigehira plays the biwa, and Senju accompanies him on the koto, feeling each other’s heart close in the fleeting moment of harmony.
The next morning, Shigehira is sent to the capital. Senju tearfully bids him farewell.
Highlights
This play is based on the episode “Senju no Mae” from The Tale of the Heike (Vol. 10), dramatizing the brief yet poignant encounter between Shigehira and Senju. The authorship is attributed to Konparu Zenchiku, son-in-law of Zeami, based on a number of distinct theatrical and literary features of the play.
A key highlight is Senju’s heartfelt recitation and elegant dance, as she dedicates herself to easing the sorrow of Shigehira, who is burdened by his captivity. The jo no mai dance featured in the scene is a refined and graceful type of dance.
The role of Shigehira requires a noble presence, as he elegantly responds to Senju’s devotion.
In nō theater, the folding fan serves not only as an element of the dance—being used to direct the audiences gaze or raised high for visual effect—but also as a symbolic prop. In the scene where Shigehira and Senju perform together, the fan is held in the left hand to represent the biwa (lute) and koto (zither), showcasing its versatile use in stage expression.
The lyrics of Senju feature words such as “rain (ame),” “sound of rain (ame no oto),” “tears (namida)” and “dew (tsuyu),” creating an atmospheric motif of raindrops echoing throughout the performance. As you watch, please imagine a gentle spring rain falling at dusk, leading into a fleeting, misty night.