Masuda City Tourist Information Center

During the Middle Ages there was a big civil war in Japan and the capital Kyoto was destroyed by fire caused by the war.

Sesshu, a priest of the Zen sect and an ink-painting artist, fled from Kyoto to Masuda to be the head priest of Ikoji-temple under the patronage of the Masuda Clan.

The Ouchi Clan of Yamaguchi prefecture was one of the powerful families during that time and the Masuda Clan belonged to their clan. The Ouchi clan’s domain had flourished and was often referred to as the “Kyoto of the West”. While Masahiro (the head of the Ouchi Clan) was away at war, Douton, one of Masayoshi’s uncles betrayed him. Douton had been looking for an opportunity to take over as leader.

This play depicts the story of Kanetaka, the head of the Masuda Clan, defeating Douton with Sesshu’s power through Buddhism on behalf of the Ouchi Clan.