Ravens at First Light Akegarasu Yume no Awayuki is a Shinnai ballad (dodoitsu) by Tsuruga Waka-no-jô (1712-86) inspired by a 1769 love suicide. The story is of a samurai who falls in love with a prostitute. He falls on hard times and has no money. However, she has fallen in love with him, and they run away together and commit double suicide.
The poem has often been used as the basis for kabuki plays. The version of 1857, has the lovers miraculously revived to live happily ever after. This is the play Akegarasu yuki no urazato depicted in this print by Kunisada with Iwai Kumesaburô III as Yamanaya Urazato in the production of V/1857 at the Nakamura Theatre.
The poem has often been used as the basis for kabuki plays. The version of 1857, has the lovers miraculously revived to live happily ever after. This is the play Akegarasu yuki no urazato depicted in this print by Kunisada with Iwai Kumesaburô III as Yamanaya Urazato in the production of V/1857 at the Nakamura Theatre.
The origial poem
三千世界の 烏を殺し 主と朝寝を してみたい | sanze sekai no karasu wo koroshi nushi to asane wo shitemitai |
Meaning: I would like to kill all the crows of all mortal worlds, and
sleep in late with my master.
sleep in late with my master.