English Title: Chanson d’Amour / Yodogimi
Japanese Title: シャンソン・ダムール / 淀君
Romanized Title: Shanson Damaaru / Yodogimi

Troupe: Star
Year: 1959
Performances: Tokyo Theater, 7/2 – 7/30




Written and Directed by Takagi Shirou

Dances by Yasumoto Shinji, Watanabe Takeo, Sasaki Kazuo, Oka Masami, Terashima Tadashi

Music by Kawasaki Tsuneo, Nakai Mitsuharu, Irie Kaoru, et al



Directed by Shirai Tetsuzou

Dances by Zenitani Nobuaki

Music by Sakai Kyou, Irie Kaoru, Totoki Kazuo, Oono Tadaosa





Yodogimi = Minami Yuuko

Hideyori Toyotomi = Yodo Kaoru

Senhime = Mari Ruiko

Ieyasu Tokugawa = Narumi Ushio

Shurino-Suke (Hideyori’s Retainer) = Momoyama Chitose

Katsumoto Katagiri (Hideyori’s Retainer) = Kamishima Yachiyo

Mitsunori Ishida (Hideyori’s Retainer) = Wakamiya Tokiko

Shoeini (Old Nun) = Ooji Michio

Aiba (Court-Lady) = Nawate Katsumi

Okura-kyo (Court Lady) = Wakazakura Kaoru

WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

(Original summary from show program)




A man, attired in swallow-tailed suit, appears on the stairs and sings the song of “Ca c’est Paris.” This is followed by a horde of men and girls.

Singer (Man) = Yodo Kaoru
Singer (Woman) = Maki Katsumi
Queen of Rose = Akashi Teruko


A singer sings “My Sweetheart”, while a dozen of girls dance.

Singer = Hoshizora Hikaru


A chansense sings before a big accordion, accompanied by an accordion player. Then, sixteen accordion rockets dance.

Singer = Maki Katsumi


The scene is set in a downtown in Paris, with stone stairs in the center. As a pistol shot comes from up the stairs, a woman is seen fleeing down them. A murder case – a group of tourists is caught in the ensuing turmoil.

Dancer (Man) = Amagi Tsukie
Dancer (Woman) = Honjou Tamaki


A poor unpopular pianist appears on a silver bridge and sings.

Pianist = Akashi Teruko


As the flowers on the stage change colors from pink to blue and white, dancers, in varying costumes, appear dancing in turn.

Girl (Long Skirt) = Mari Ruiko
Singer (Long Skirt) = Honami Shinobu
Singer = Nawate Katsumi


A female dancer, whose skirt flows over the stage, sings with a tiny mirror in hand. Soon, a group of men and women emerges through the skirt, ending up in a gala dancing by all on the stage.

Queen = Maki Katsumi
Dancer (Woman) = Shijou Hideko
Dancer (Man) = Nachi Wataru


A Parisian appears on the stage, and relates his life story in song.

As he sings, the episodes of his life coming up and vanishing by turns are remembered.

Singer (Parisian) = Yodo Kaoru


As the music of “Falling Leaves” is played, an alcohol-addicted woman appears and remembers memories of her past glory. Eventually she becomes insane and kills herself by plunging into the river from a bridge.

Alcohol-Addicted Woman = Ooji Michio


As gas lights twinkle in the distance, sixteen gentlemen dance to the accompaniment of a song sung by a swallow-tailed man.

Singer = Hoshizora Hikaru


In a garden with a fountain, a woman stands as if waiting for a person to come up. Music is heard far-off, and she is into fantasies.

Woman = Mari Ruiko
Dancer = Shijou Hideko


Eight dancers turn into the keys of piano.

Pianist = Nawate Katsumi


A female singer sings before a piano while two gentlemen dance. Then, three dance together while singing.

Singer = Maki Katsumi
Trio = Amagi Tsukie, Akashi Teruko, Chinami Shizuka


Three men dance a tap dance. The rockets of the keys of the piano dance a lined dance.

Tap Trio = Nachi Wataru, Wakayama Kazumi, Chinami Shizuka


A story of three rustics sight-seeing in Paris.

Rustic = Amagi Tsukie, Akashi Teruko, Yodo Kaoru


A flower, as big as the stage, collapses, its petals turned into so many dancer-girls who dance together.


A pretty flower vendor-girl sings, while other girls spread flowers.


All cast members stage a grand parade, while singing.



This is a dramatization of “Yodogimi,” a masterpiece by the late Shoyo Tsubouchi, the great playwright, critic and Shakespearean scholar of Japan, dealing with the strife between the Toyotimis and the Tokugawas, one of the most interesting historical episodes through Japan’s history.

Following the death of Hideyoshi Toyotimi, who unified war-torn Japan by civil wars, the fate of the Toyotimis steadily waved through their defeats in the Sekigahara Battle and the Battle of Osaka in the early summer of 1615, and their authority over the nations was rapidly being replaced by the Tokugawas.

“Yodogimi,” Hideyoshi’s widow, intrigues to let her son, Hideyori, succeed the hierarchy bequeathed by her late husband. However, she is forced to be reminded of her helplessness in the face of the tide of the times.

On May 7, 1615, Hideyori and “Yodogimi” wage the last showdown on the battlefields with Ieyasu Tokugawa. Yodogimi hinges her last hopes on the person of Sen-hime, Hideyori’s consort, who, being a granddaughter of Ieyasu, might be utilized as a hostage. In the confusion of the fighting, however, the young lady falls into the hands of the enemy.

The Osaka Castle is thickly besieged by the Tokugawa troops. “Yodogimi” seeks shelter in the ammunition depot. The last minutes of the once-powerful Toyotimis are being numbered.

Defeat and confusion – and “Yodogimi” finds herself in an uncontrollable mental confusion and frenzy. In utter despair and hysterical dejection, she grabs the robes left by Sen-hime, abuses the name of Ieyasu and consoles herself by taking pride of her status. She is so upset.

Hideyori tries to bring his mother back to senses. In the meantime, the ammunition depot, where they hide themselves in shelter, takes on fire, telling the last moment of their family and the Osaka Castle, their citadel, fast approaching.



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