Reimagining a scandal while creating a “modern” classic: Hasegawa Shigure’s Kabuki adaptation of the Ejima Ikushima Affair

This paper analyses the drama Ejima Ikushima, a dance play about the scandal that most deeply involved the kabuki realm written by Hasegawa Shigure (1879-1941), first performed in 1913, contextualizing it within the changing theatrical landscape of late Meiji (1868-1912) and early Taishō (1912- 1926) Japan. The scandal of 1714, involving the Edo court lady Ejima and kabuki actor Ikushima Shingorō, had a profound impact on kabuki, prompting shifts in social dynamics, theatre architecture, and audience-actor interactions. Despite this, its adaptation onto the kabuki stage occurred later, with Hasegawa’s work representing one of the earliest dramatizations during the Meiji period. Examining Hasegawa’s innovative approach, this study explores how her adaptation reinterprets the scandal, focusing on themes of exile and madness, and introducing a narrative style based on new choreographic techniques. Central to this analysis is the establishment of the Buyō Kenkyūkai, the Dance Research Group founded by the author, which encouraged the integration of traditional and contemporary influences in Japanese dance. Hasegawa’s works within the group are recognized precursors of the shinbuyō undō, the new dance movement, advocating for independent performance by actors and choreographers and introducing a clear separation between dance and theatrical scripts. Employing interdisciplinary investigation, the paper situates Hasegawa’s work within broader socio-cultural shifts, positioning her as a pioneering figure in advancing theatrical dance forms. With numerous documented performances and continued relevance in contemporary productions, Ejima Ikushima emerges as a classic within a kabuki subgenre.