Hōchō (The Knife)
包丁・ほうちょう
The story
Tora, an idle man-about-town, is drawn into a strange scheme by his no-good friend Sei. Sei wants to cast off his kept woman, O-Taki, and move on to a rich widow, so he asks Tora to seduce O-Taki and manufacture proof of adultery — a pretext to throw her out. With liquor and a knife tucked into his robe, Tora sets off for O-Taki's place.
What to listen for
The grubby plot to be rid of a woman, and the unexpected steadfastness she shows when it is set before her. A bitter-edged piece in which the wicked scheme slowly turns awry and the warm humanity of the Edo backstreets rises to the surface.
Background
Maotoko — adultery with a married or kept woman — was treated as a serious offense in Edo, which is exactly why it can serve as a pretext for driving a woman out. The knife of the title comes into play as a prop of intimidation.
Notable performers
六代目三遊亭圓生五代目古今亭志ん生