Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
(Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)

From - A Guide to the Japanese Stage by Ronald Cavaye, Paul Griffith and Akihiko Senda
(Kodansha International, Japan)

Written by Takeda Izumo II, Miyoshi Shoraku and Namiki Senryu, Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees is one of the three most popular and famous in the Kabuki repertoire. Performed by puppets in 1747 and adapted as Kabuki in 1748, it is set during the late 12th century Genji-Heike civil wars.

Synopsis:

The Heike clan has been defeated at several important battles and Lord Yoritomo, of the opposing Genji, has established himself as shogun. But his younger half-brother, Yoshitsune, has also been very successful in battle, causing Yoritomo to become bitterly jealous. Yoritomo therefore turns against Yoshitsune and determines to capture him, forcing Yoshitsune to run away in an attempt to escape his brother's men.

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