Boris Akunin - All the World's a Stage

OKASAN Oh, what happiness it is that you, Kubota-san, have not forgotten me, even after so very many years! Ah, of course, I have become ugly and old, but seeing you, I tremble once again in joy.

She covers her face elegantly with her hand, performing the gesture ‘Pleasant Embarrassment’.

KUBOTA Ah, but how could I forget you? Ah, those golden days! But weeping tears for spring is foolish on an autumn day. Yes, we are not as we once were. What once was is now past, and yet it would be strange to be offended at our fate. What a high grandee I have now become, and you are now the owner of the finest of all tea houses. But I have come to you today not in remembrance of the past. I have been sent here on an errand from my prince. His Lordship wishes to choose from among the geishas of the capital one who will be a concubine for his sweet delectation.

Okasan flutters her sleeves elegantly, performing the gesture ‘Great and Joyful Amazement’.

My prince is well accustomed to trusting my judgement. My instructions were to hasten to the capital. Before the prince arrives I must go round all the tea houses and select ten of the very finest geishas. During a presentation he will make his choice of one. For a geisha truly an enviable fate! Think how much money you would receive. And how greatly your establishment’s prestige would be enhanced!

OKASAN I do not dare to dream of such a matchless honour.

My best reward is simply to behold your face.

She performs the gesture ‘Most Profound Gratefulness’.

I shall show you forthwith what brings my house its fame. I shall reveal my treasure, holding nothing back. It was no accident that I ordered the gates to be flung open. My house and my heart are both alike open to you.

She performs the gesture ‘Boundless Sincerity’.

First my daughter O-Bara will demonstrate all her art for you. Do not be strict with her.

She claps her hands.

The owner’s adopted daughter O-Bara appears and walks up onto the stage. She is wearing a magnificent brocade kimono with a scarlet lining. Her tall hairstyle is decorated with slides in the form of butterflies. Her face, as befits a geisha, is thickly whitened. Her movements are precise and bold and every gesture is replete with sensuality.

Yuba gets up and minces to the stage. She bows, hands her mistress a little drum and goes back. The performance begins. O-Bara first dances to fast music, beating out the rhythm with blows on a drum. The geisha keeps her eyes fixed on the guest all the time, demonstrating in every way possible that she is performing only for him.

STORYTELLER ( during the dance )

The dance is over. The pupil takes the drum, the geisha sits down with the shamisen and sings in a beautiful, low, slightly hoarse voice, looking at the samurai.

O-BARA ( sings )

Kubota listens, swaying his head to the rhythm. Okasan glances sideways at him to see whether he is pleased.

During O-Bara’s performance, the following takes place on the hanamichi.

Kinjo, taking advantage of the fact that the spectators are absorbed in the performance, sets about his thievish business. First he deftly frisks the Ronin beside him: he searches under his belt and in his broad sleeve, and raises the hem of his kimono from behind. But he finds nothing of any value and shakes his head in disgust. He creeps a little farther forward, walking on tiptoe, and sets to work on the merchant. Here he has much better luck. He takes a purse out of the man’s sleeve and a silk pouch and gilded pipe from behind his belt; in the lining of the merchant’s kimono he discovers a secret pocket, from which he fishes out several gold coins.

The geisha’s performance comes to an end. She bows deeply, exclusively to Kubota, and heaves a deep sigh, which is accompanied by the gesture ‘Sensual Agitation’, then walks away to the far side of the stage and sits down there.

KUBOTA ( to the owner ) What a seductress! I could have watched and watched. I am no longer young, and yet my blood still boiled. The prince will like her even more. Of course, it is embarrassing even to compare her with the princess. For after all, my lord’s wife was chosen by his father, who was thinking, not of beauty, but of profit for the treasury…

OKASAN Will you permit me now to call Izumi? She is in a different style, but also very fine.

Kubota nods and the owner claps her hands.

Izumi appears. She is wearing a muted but elegant kimono of bluish-white with silver embroidery. She moves smoothly, almost weightlessly. Her eyes are lowered. She bows first to the guest, then to the owner, then to the public. Her pupil Sen-chan abruptly gets up, runs to the stage and hands Izumi a fan, after which she takes her time returning to her place.

Izumi begins a slow, elegant dance.

KUBOTA ( moved ) Oh, such nobility! The patterning of the dance is pure! She is exactly like a willow tree above a quiet river!

SEN-CHAN ( very clearly ) Did you hear, my sister? He has approved the dance. He likened you to a willow tree above a quiet river!

OKASAN Such naughtiness! Intolerable child! She has not been with us for long. Forgive her, my lord!

Kubota is so entranced by the geisha that he has not heard either the shout or the apologies. Sen-chan comes running back and takes the fan from Izumi, who sits down with the shamisen , plays and sings.

IZUMI

SEN-CHAN ( turning towards the auditorium ) Did you all hear? Did you hear? Oh, how she sings! In all the world there is no one more beautiful than my Izumi-san!

Yuba nudges the girl in the side with her elbow, and she falls silent. During Izumi’s performance the thief carries on working. After cleaning out the merchant, he moves on to the ‘monk’. Here there is a surprise in store for him. Not having discovered anything in the sleeve, Kinjo lifts the hem of the robe – and sees the gleaming blade of a naked sword. The thief backs away fearfully and takes up a position behind Yuba. He tries to thrust his hand in behind her belt, but, unable to resist, lovingly strokes the firm, cloth-wrapped thigh.

Without turning round, Yuba slaps the unknown rascal on the hand. Kinjo calms down.

Izumi finishes singing. She bows again in three directions, lowers her eyes and walks away to take a seat beside O-Bara.

KUBOTA ( loudly ) If it were up to me, I would already halt the search! A concubine such as this is the very one we need! Modest, with excellent manners, and so comely! No stain would she inflict on my lord’s honour. And above all, in her one sees that genuine yugen , without which any beauty is but vulgar.