{"id":120,"date":"2026-02-19T21:12:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/?p=120"},"modified":"2026-03-20T11:29:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T02:29:58","slug":"the-domyoji-%e9%81%93%e6%98%8e%e5%af%ba%e3%81%ae%e6%ae%b5-scene-what-is-sugawara-denju-tenarai-kagami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/the-domyoji-%e9%81%93%e6%98%8e%e5%af%ba%e3%81%ae%e6%ae%b5-scene-what-is-sugawara-denju-tenarai-kagami\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u201cD\u014dmy\u014dji (\u9053\u660e\u5bfa\u306e\u6bb5)\u201d\u00a0Scene \u2014 What Is Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>D\u014dmy\u014dji no dan \u2014 <em>Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cD\u014dmy\u014dji Scene\u201d is a highly lyrical and fantastical episode depicting the sorrow of those parting from Sugawara no Michizane as he is exiled to Dazaifu, along with a miraculous act of substitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Kakuj\u016b\u2019s residence, Kariya-hime, whose love for Prince Sainyo led to her father\u2019s downfall, longs to see her father one last time before their separation. Enraged, Kakuj\u016b punishes her. Just then, a voice is heard from within the room. When Kariya-hime opens the sliding door, she finds not her father himself, but a wooden statue carved by Michizane\u2019s own hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Shukune Tar\u014d and Haji Hy\u014de, allies of Shihei, plot to have Michizane killed by making a rooster crow early, deceiving him into departing too soon. To silence witnesses, they murder Tachibana. A false escort appears, and it seems as if Michizane has already set out, but the contents of the palanquin are revealed to have been switched: the wooden statue and the living Michizane appear, astonishing everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michizane explains that a spirit has entered the statue he lovingly carved, allowing it to take his place and save his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At last, the true moment of departure arrives. Leaving behind Kariya-hime\u2019s sorrowful cries, Michizane begins his journey to Dazaifu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene is renowned as one of the most dreamlike and tragic episodes in <em>Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami<\/em>, condensing parental love, betrayal and murderous intent, and a miracle born of faith into a single, unforgettable stage moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene \u2014 <em>Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami<\/em>: Detailed Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Cane Beating (Tsue Orikan) Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Late at night in Kakuj\u016b\u2019s residence, Kariya-hime longs to see her father, Sugawara no Michizane, before he is exiled to Dazaifu, and tells her sister Tachibana of this wish. Kakuj\u016b, enraged that her own father lost his post due to Kariya-hime\u2019s love affair, punishes her with a cane. Suddenly, Michizane\u2019s voice is heard from within a small room, and Kakuj\u016b, moved by emotion, halts his punishment. When Kariya-hime opens the sliding door, her father is nowhere to be seen; only a wooden statue carved by Michizane himself is placed there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>T\u014dtenk\u014d (\u6771\u5929\u7d05) Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tachibana\u2019s husband, Shukune Tar\u014d, and her father, Haji Hy\u014de, allies of Shihei, plot to kill Michizane by luring him out of the residence before dawn with the sound of a rooster. To prevent Tachibana from revealing their plan, they deceive and kill her, sinking her body in a pond. Haji Hy\u014de then uses this corpse in a clever scheme to mimic a rooster\u2019s crow to signal dawn, carrying out his cruel plot.<br>(<em>T\u014dtenk\u014d<\/em> is the Edo-period way of writing the rooster\u2019s crow \u201ccock-a-doodle-doo\u201d in kanji, symbolizing the break of dawn.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Parting Cup (sh\u014dj\u014d Nagori) Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Believing the rooster\u2019s crow signals dawn, the household prepares a farewell cup for Michizane and sends him off with a fake escort. Soon, the death of Tachibana is discovered, and Kakuj\u016b realizes the culprit is Tar\u014d when he finds him biting Tachibana\u2019s sleeve and strikes him down. A formal escort, the Hangan-dai Terukuni, arrives, but Michizane has already departed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Substitute (Miraculous) Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid the confusion, Michizane appears from within the small room, hiding with Terukuni. When the fake escort returns and examines the palanquin, Michizane and the wooden statue have been swapped, astonishing everyone. Michizane explains that the wooden statue he carved himself had received a soul, acting as a miraculous substitute to save his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Departure (Shuttatsu) Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the time of departure approaches, Kakuj\u016b offers Michizane a kimono for warmth, but hidden inside the garment is Kariya-hime herself. Michizane, as a father, suppresses his emotions and declines the gift, setting out on his journey. With Kariya-hime\u2019s cries in the background, Michizane, accompanied by Terukuni, travels to his assigned post in Dazaifu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This D\u014dmy\u014dji segment condenses intense parental affection, betrayal and murderous intent, and miraculous intervention into a single, highly dramatic and fantastical stage sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"p-adBox -normal -border-off\" data-id=\"175\" data-ad=\"normal\"><div class=\"p-adBox__body\"><div class=\"p-adBox__img\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9605472874778813\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- \u30bf\u30a4\u30c8\u30eb\u3057\u305f -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9605472874778813\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9431907817\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Main Characters<\/strong>\u3000(<strong>D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene<\/strong>)<em>fromSugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami<\/em>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Kansh\u014dj\u014d<\/strong> <\/strong><br>The tragic protagonist, exiled to Dazaifu for a crime he did not commit. In the D\u014dmy\u014dji scene, he is depicted with nobility, accepting everything without showing anger or resentment. The miraculous event in which the wooden statue he carved comes to life as a substitute symbolizes his virtue and deep emotions. His decision to part from his adoptive daughter, Kariya-hime, while thinking of her as a parent, highlights the height of his character and spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kakuju <\/strong><br>sh\u014dj\u014d\u2019s aunt and Kariya-hime\u2019s biological mother, a strict elder woman. She initially punishes Kariya-hime harshly, resenting the romance with Prince Saisei that led to sh\u014dj\u014d \u2019s downfall. However, hearing sh\u014dj\u014d\u2019s voice makes her realize her mistake. Torn between loyalty and familial affection, she struggles but ultimately seeks to protect sh\u014dj\u014d, eliciting audience sympathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kariya-hime <\/strong><br>sh\u014dj\u014d\u2019s adopted daughter, and Kakuju\u2019s biological daughter. The young princess whose romance with Prince Saisei brought tragedy. Her pure wish to see her father one last time, combined with the guilt over the consequences of her love, is moving. Her attempt to hide in a box to accompany her father symbolizes the depth of parental and filial affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tatsuta no Mae <\/strong><br>Kakuju\u2019s daughter and Kariya-hime\u2019s older sister, a kind woman who cares deeply for her younger sister. She discovers her husband and father-in-law plotting to assassinate sh\u014dj\u014d and tries to stop them, but is killed in the process. Her unjust death stands out as the story\u2019s most senseless sacrifice, emphasizing the cruelty of evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sukune Tar\u014d <\/strong><br>Husband of Tatsuta no Mae and supporter of Fujiwara no Tokihira. Alongside his father, Haji Hy\u014de, he plots to kill sh\u014dj\u014d, displaying ruthless coldness by willing to kill his own wife to achieve his goals. The discovery of his actions through Tatsuta\u2019s death leads to his downfall, embodying karmic retribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Haji Hy\u014de <\/strong><br>Father of Sukune Tar\u014d and an even more ruthless schemer. He devises the cunning plan involving the rooster\u2019s crow to lure and kill sh\u014dj\u014d. Ultimately captured by the official envoy, he is depicted as intelligent but merciless, providing tension and drama to the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hangandai Terukuni<\/strong><br>The official imperial envoy sent to escort sh\u014dj\u014d. Detached from conspiracies, he is loyal to his duty and recognizes the false escorts, restoring order. He protects sh\u014dj\u014d amidst the chaos, representing law, order, and justice within the narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Highlights of the D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The greatest appeal of the <strong>D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene<\/strong> lies in its structure, where tragedy and miracle unfold simultaneously. While human ugliness\u2014such as betrayal and murderous intent\u2014is depicted, the stage is also enveloped by parental affection and miraculous, faith-inspired phenomena, allowing the audience to experience layered emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Parental affection in the \u201c  Punishment\u201d scene<\/strong><br>One of the first points of note is the depiction of parental love during the Staff Punishment scene. Kakuju\u2019s strict discipline toward Kariya-hime contrasts with the voice of Sugawara no J\u014dsh\u014d heard from within the room. Although he never appears physically, J\u014dsh\u014d\u2019s virtue and presence are made vividly clear. The moment when Kariya-hime opens the sh\u014dji (sliding door) to find the wooden statue serves as a crucial foreshadowing of the theme of \u201csubstitute\u201d that runs throughout this scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cruelty in the \u201cT\u014dtenk\u014d\u201d scene<\/strong><br>The scheming of Sukune Tar\u014d and Haji Hy\u014de, depicted in the T\u014dtenk\u014d scene, represents some of the story\u2019s most brutal moments. Their plotting to lure J\u014dsh\u014d out with a rooster\u2019s crow and the ruthless murder of Tatsuta create an intense impression of the coldness of those aligned with power. This darkness heightens the impact of the miraculous events that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Core stagecraft from the \u201cFarewell Cup\u201d to the \u201cSubstitute\u201d scene<\/strong><br>The sequence from the Farewell Cup scene to the Substitute scene contains the most dramatic and theatrical moments in D\u014dmy\u014dji. The seemingly departed J\u014dsh\u014d appearing in the room, with the contents of the palanquin mysteriously switched, creates a sense of wonder unique to kabuki\u2019s stylized aesthetics. His words\u2014that the wooden statue he carved with all his heart became imbued with life\u2014symbolize the play\u2019s central idea that scholarship and virtue can generate miraculous outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final departure scene<\/strong><br>In the climactic Departure scene, Kariya-hime hiding inside the box makes the parent-child farewell especially poignant. J\u014dsh\u014d suppresses his emotions to part from her, and his final \u201cTenjin-mie\u201d pose leaves the audience with a powerful blend of sorrow and nobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><br>The <strong>D\u014dmy\u014dji Scene<\/strong> masterfully depicts both the tragedy born of human malice and the miracle brought about by virtue and prayer. It is considered one of the most spiritually profound and thematically rich scenes in <em>Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ae4b71937ae187a5b7fea1969f709089-1-300x164.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/category\/plays-stories\/\">Plays &amp; Stories<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">Plays &amp; Stories\r\nExplore the plots and background of Kabuki plays, from timeless classics to seasonal performances. This section offers easy-to-understand summaries, key highlights, and insights to help you enjoy each production more deeply\u2014whether it\u2019s your first time at the theater or you\u2019re already a devoted fan.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-postLink\">\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard -internal\" data-type=\"type1\" data-onclick=\"clickLink\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__caption\">\u3042\u308f\u305b\u3066\u8aad\u307f\u305f\u3044<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__thumb c-postThumb\"><figure class=\"c-postThumb__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chokabuki2_01-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-postThumb__img u-obf-cover\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"p-blogCard__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"p-blogCard__title\" href=\"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/beginners-guide-5-kabuki-plays-first-time-visitors-will-actually-enjoy\/\">Beginner\u2019s Guide\u30005 Kabuki Plays First-Time Visitors Will Actually Enjoy<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"p-blogCard__excerpt\">5 Kabuki Plays First-Time Visitors Will Actually Enjoy \u201cIs Kabuki worth watching if I don\u2019t understand Japanese?\u201d This is the most common question asked by f&#8230;<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>D\u014dmy\u014dji no dan \u2014 Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami The \u201cD\u014dmy\u014dji Scene\u201d is a highly lyrical and fantastical episode [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plays-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120\/revisions\/204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kabukiguide.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}