安達ヶ原
Adachigahara — The Demon of the Black Mound
Adachigahara tells the story of a powerful evil fox spirit that has traveled across China and India, causing chaos and deceiving people. After taking the form of a beautiful woman named Tamamo-no-Mae, the fox eventually escapes to Japan's Adachigahara. There, it encounters a group of traveling monks and their attendants. The fox reveals its terrifying true form and attacks them, leading to a dramatic battle.
The Story
The story begins with an evil fox that has traveled throughout China and India, using its supernatural powers to cause mischief and deceive people.
In Japan, the fox takes the form of a beautiful woman known as Tamamo-no-Mae and succeeds in deceiving the Emperor.
Eventually, however, her true identity is discovered. The fox flees to Adachigahara, where it hides in the mountains.
Later, a traveling monk and his attendants encounter the fox. The creature attacks them, revealing itself as a terrifying supernatural fox.
The battle eventually draws the attention of two renowned archers, Miura-no-suke and Kazusa-no-suke. Using their exceptional skill with the bow, they confront the evil fox and ultimately defeat it.
Characters
Tamamo-no-Mae (玉藻前) — A beautiful woman who is actually the disguised fox spirit.
The Evil Fox (悪狐 / 妖狐) — A powerful supernatural fox capable of taking human form.
The Traveling Monk (旅の僧) — A monk who encounters the fox at Adachigahara.
Gōriki (剛力) — The monk's attendants and helpers.
Miura-no-suke (三浦ノ介) — A skilled archer who fights the fox.
Kazusa-no-suke (上総ノ介) — Another master archer who joins the battle.
What to Watch For
One of the most spectacular moments of Adachigahara is the transformation from the beautiful Tamamo-no-Mae into the terrifying evil fox.
The sudden change of masks and costumes dramatically reveals the creature's true identity. This transformation is followed by dynamic fighting and energetic choreography accompanied by powerful kagura music.
The contrast between the elegant appearance of Tamamo-no-Mae and the frightening appearance of the fox spirit is one of the defining visual elements of the performance.
The final battle, featuring the two master archers Miura-no-suke and Kazusa-no-suke, provides a particularly powerful and heroic climax.
Photo Gallery
Photographs from Hiroshima Kagura performances
