The Aragoto Demon Queller ・ Oshimodoshi EXPLAINED (1727)

TOKYO, Nov 24 (Kabuki In-Depth) - Oshimodoshi is an almost 300 years old scene in the aragoto style, first performed by Ichikawa Danjūrō II in 1727, at the Nakamura-za theatre in Edo. Ever since, playwrights have incorporated it into their newly created works for a spectacular and climatic conclusion.

In addition to Narukami and Musume Dōjō-ji, mentioned in the video, the scene can also be sometimes seen in Onna Narukami and the finale of Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage, also known as Hōkaibō. The role is usually played by the top aragotoshi of each generation, such as Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII, Nakamura Ganjirō IV, Onoe Shōroku IV, Ichikawa Danjūrō XII and Kataoka Gatō V.