Nemuri Kyoshiro Synopsis
The Nemuri Kyoshiro DVD is now shipping and people are receiving their copies (do you have yours yet?) It doesn't have English subtitles and can be a little tricky to understand, so here's a synopsis of the plot.
I hope it's of help!
It doesn't cover every single scene, but should be enough for everyone to understand the characters and what is happening. I wrote this after seeing the play live for the second time last January, but there isn't much different from the DVD.
Thanks to excused_early for checking there were no major mistakes!
The play starts with a video being shown on the screen that covers the front of the stage. It shows a young Kyoshiro, he’s probably no more than 12-13 years old, visiting a grave. The grave has a single kanji on it, 霊, (soul or spirit) and is the grave of his mother. Blue gentian flowers can be seen in the video and these are the flowers that become symbolic of Kyoshiro and his mother throughout the play.
The screen lifts and Kyoshiro is on stage. His katana is drawn and he demonstrates a few parries while the play’s theme song is played. The words NEMURI X GACKT PROJECT display on the video wall at the back of the stage.
Kyoshiro leaves the stage and we’re transported to a merchant’s shop. The two merchants Bizenya and Hijikata are discussing their illegal trade of Western goods and how Kyoshiro opposes them and has succeeded in stopping them. The mercenary Mikumo is kneeling at the side of the stage, eyes closed but listening into the conversation. Ayano and her brother Kazuma come to the store to speak with the merchants. Hijikata has the ear of the damiyo and the siblings want the damiyo to grant their request to have Kyoshiro killed as they believe he murdered their father. Their wishes coincide with the wishes of the merchants and so a plot is hatched for Mikumo to kill Kyoshiro with the help of Kazuma.
Tachikawa has an audience with him and tells them scary tales, setting the scene for the black magic aspect of the Kyoshiro story. Kinpachi sneaks up on him as he’s telling these stories and jumps on him from behind, scaring him. A dozen extras come on stage and it’s now a busy town scene with people going about their business.
A man runs on stage in a panic, his clothes ripped and in disarray. He tells the townspeople that a girl’s body has been found in the river - dead and with a black cross marked on her stomach. The state of her body and her physical appearance both bare a strong resemblance to what happened with Kyoshiro’s mother. The townspeople flee, leaving only the main characters on stage.
Kyoshiro returns and is informed of what has happened. He doesn’t say much. Takebe, an older samurai who takes Kyoshiro under his wing and gives him guidance, introduces Kyoshiro to Ayano. Mojiwaka, a former pickpocket turned shamisen teacher who also offers guidance to Kyoshiro, tries to push him towards Ayano, firstly by literally pushing him with her hands and secondly by pushing him with her hips. Kyoshiro is embarrassed by their actions as is Ayano, although she introduces herself to him in a suitably respectful manner.
Soon, Kyoshiro is left alone on stage and he walks to the front as the screen descends behind him. The news of the dead girl has reminded him of his mother. The screen shows footage of a black mass full of Christian imagery such as crosses and a statue of the Virgin Mary crying blood. There is a woman in the middle of it all, being held down onto a stone table by hooded men and Kyoshiro’s voice over identifies the woman as his mother.
When the screen lifts, the stage is now a temple and Kyoshiro comes back, stopping to pick the blue gentian. His peace is disturbed by the appearance of Mikumo and a few henchman. They ask him if he is Nemuri Kyoshiro and soon the fight begins. Mikumo watches from the side as Kyoshiro quickly dispatches of the henchmen, the gentian in his mouth, and even uses the flower as a distraction tactic, throwing it into the air to distract the last men before killing him too. When the fight is over, Kyoshiro picks up the gentian again and Mikumo walks away, making it clear that the two will meet again.
Bizenya and Hijikata are back in their merchant store discussing their trade and the plot to kill Kyoshiro and also fill in some of the back story regarding Kyoshiro’s mother. They’re confident that they will be successful in killing him, and restoring their illegal trade.
The next scene sees flowers back on the stage again. Kyoshiro is stage right, and Ayano is stage left, tending to the flowers. She pricks her finger on one of the stems and the thorn gets stuck inside. Kyoshiro asks her what is wrong, sees the problem and pulls the thorn out with his teeth. Ayano is slightly embarrassed by his actions and his attention and sits down on one of the benches. Kyoshiro kneels beside her and pulls a cloth out of the top of his yukata, rips a strip off and silently, but forcefully, asks for her hand. He bandages her finger and asks her if she’s okay. Ayano confirms that she is and leaves the stage.
Mihoyo comes on stage with a tray of sake and serves Kyoshiro. He is now seated as she kneels before him and he shares his sake with her (this is a very symbolic gesture, it’s usually done by husbands and wives at their wedding ceremony and has a similar meaning outside of the ceremony). She seems a little overwhelmed by Kyoshiro’s gesture but she accepts and drinks. They stare deeply into each other’s eyes as Kyoshiro strokes her face and lean in closer to each other… and are interrupted by Takebe.
Kyoshiro is sitting at home, leaning against the wall with one leg folded and a blue gentian in his hand. He’s thinking of his mother again and falls asleep, the gentian falling from his hands. Takebe comes to see Kyoshiro who, at the first hint that there is someone else there, immediately goes for his katana before relaxing when he sees who it is. Takebe comments on Kyoshiro’s choice of simplistic house and Kyoshiro replies that it suits him.
Kinpachi runs on stage with a wooden token. It belongs to the merchants and is proof of the illegal trading that they have been doing. Mojiwaka had been caught stealing it from the merchants and they have kidnapped her in retaliation. They want Kyoshiro to return the token in exchange for Mojiwaka.
They have Mojiwaka bound in the forest. Kyoshiro appears with his katana to the throat of Kazuma but lets both him and the token go in exchange for Mojiwaka. There are more henchmen hiding in the woods but Kyoshiro kills them while again, Mikumo merely watches.
Kazuma and Mikumo are shown training with wooden staves. Mikumo is too powerful and skilled for Kazuma and soon has him on the floor as he berates Kazuma for being too soft and not having the right mind-set to kill Kyoshiro. He tells Kazuma to ignore his heart and concentrate on his hatred.
[interval]
Mihoyo and Ayano are speaking about Kyoshiro when they are approached by several henchmen. One grabs Mihoyo roughly and pushes her to the floor. Ayano protests but is quickly silenced and can only watch as they put Mihoyo into a carriage and carry her away. Due to Ayano’s protests, she is also kidnapped by the henchmen but is allowed to walk with them under her own power.
There is a meeting in the forest between Bizenya and Hijikata. Bizenya no longer has any use for Hijikata and Mikumo kills him. Kazuma finds him and begins to realise exactly who he’s aligned himself with and questions that decision. He fights with Mikumo and is injured, although not fatally.
Kyoshiro comes to the forest and finds the two girls bound. Kazuma sees Ayano bound and decides to join Kyoshiro’s side, the truth behind his father’s death becoming clear. Kinpachi, Mojiwaka and Takebe appear and in the initial commotion of Kyoshiro’s appearance, they’re able to rush the guards who had the girls and quickly get them out of the way.
Kyoshiro is soon surrounded by enemies (the green ninjas!) and the epic battle begins. Kazuma helps to begin with, but soon disappears. Wave after wave attack Kyoshiro, first with swords then with naginata and finally with swords again. Kyoshiro dances around them all, slashing them with his own blade and at times, using their own weapons against them.
With the green ninja all murdered, Kyoshiro is left to fight Mikumo. They circle each other before rushing into the fight. Mikumo catches Kyoshiro with his blade and Kyoshiro staggers from the blow, obviously hurt, before facing the fight again. They charge up the stairs at the back of the stage, lunge at each other and the stage fades to black as a flash of light explodes on the video wall .
When the stage is lit again, Mikumo is stood at the top of the stairs and Kyoshiro is kneeling at the bottom. There is no noise or movement for several seconds, leaving the audience to wonder who won the fight. Eventually, Kyoshiro’s heavy and exhausted breathing can be heard and Mikumo begins screaming his name. Kyoshiro stands straight and Mikumo staggers down the stairs, planting his katana in the ground before falling to his knees. He tells Kyoshiro that their fight was fun, before finally dying.
Ayano, Kazuma and Mihoyo come back on stage to find Mikumo dead and Kyoshiro victorious. Ayano and Kazuma now realise that Kyoshiro did not kill their father and ask him why he didn’t tell them. Did he want them to discover the truth themselves? Kyoshiro states that they shouldn’t try to read his intentions or question his motives. He’s a cold man who acts as he wishes for his own reasons, not to please or help others. He leaves the stage, telling them to be their own people and not to look to him for guidance or judgement.
The video wall shows a written statement from Kyoshiro [that had to be written by GACKT, that style is pretty distinct I think] and Kyoshiro’s voice rings through the speakers. "The gentian grows alone. The hagi flower grows in a group. Both have a beautiful existence but they don’t need to be the same as each other. Nemuri Kyoshiro."
A short video is shown of the young Kyoshiro visiting the grave again.
Notes
The DVD version has some differences to seeing it live as most of the crowd participation and humour has been taken out of it. It's played very straight and is pretty much just the plot.
On a personal note, I urge everyone to buy this DVD and watch it. Even if you can't understand, you can get a lot out of it and the bonus DVD is a must. The work and effort GACKT put into this play is easily evident, as is how much it took out of him. He never really talked about how bad his ankle was, or how the skin peeled off the bottoms of his feet, or the million other stresses and strains he picked up, but this play was not easy for him to do. It deserves to be seen (and not just for the thighs - they're a bonus XD)