Kanjinchō (The Subscription List)
Kanjinchō is one of the kabuki classics – a staple of any actor and all of the theatres. It is a very compact play with no changes of set and with a very small cast too. Benkei is clearly the character that holds most attention on stage and is always associated with a top-ranking actor of his day.
Prints of the day nearly always put Yoshitsune on the left, with Benkei in the middle and Togachi on the right hand side. Benkei’s beautiful and confident monologues are also so well known that the text often features in the print. In addition the prints often feature the set design, which is always that of a bamboo & pine forest.
Plot
Togachi Saemon, a well-educated aristocrat, appears on stage and explains that he has been tasked to man a road-block/barrier with his men, as part of an attempt by the authorities to capture the fugitive Minamoto Yoshitsune and his entourage, who are believed to be fleeing north disguised as wandering priests.
Yoshitsune appears dressed as a porter with a wide straw hat, carrying a load on his back. Benkei, his loyal follower, is at the head of the party and explains that they are a group of travelling priests who have been tasked to collect money for the restoration of the Tōdaiji Temple at Nara and they need to pass by the barrier and continue on their way.
Togachi replies that they must first prove that they are priests and to produce their Subscription List (a kanjinchō). Benkei is taken aback and momentarily put on the back foot but he quickly draws out a blank scroll and starts to “read” from it in a confident voice. Togachi has noticed that the scroll is blank but he is impressed by Benkei’s courage and his ingenuity. He continues to ask him about his costume and the equipment he carries plus the meaning of some very complicated Buddhist terms. Benkei answers all questions correctly.
Togachi is so impressed by Benkei that he announces that he is satisfied that all is correct and that they can go through – even offering to make his own donation to the restoration. However as they pass the men one of them notices that one of the porters looks like Yoshitsune. Togachi cannot ignore this but Benkei protests vociferously and eventually beats Yoshitsune, saying that if he is a suspect then he must certainly be detained by Togachi.
Togachi is sure that the porter is Yoshitsune but he understands that he has put the loyal Benkei in an impossible predicament and that his reactions show great courage and is risking his life to protect his master. Togachi eventually tells Benkei to restrain himself and they are allowed to go on their way.
Out of sight Yoshitsune thanks Benkei for saving his life and everyone praises his courage and resourcefulness. But Benkei apologises profusely for beating his master and says that he would rather die than to beat him. He cries for the first time in his life.
