HIROSHIMA KAGURARegular Performances 2026

During the Former Nine-Year's war, the powerful Abe clan of Mutsu Province is utterly destroyed by Minamoto-no-Yoriyoshi and his son, Yoshi'ie, for their defiance of the emperor. Later on, in Dewa Province in the north, troubles brew within the Kiyohara clan, the family of Kiyohara Takenori, who joined the Minamoto clan's side during the Former Nine-Year's War and took over for the Abe clan. Takenori's grandchildren, Masahira, Kiyohira, and Iehira, are the cause of the infighting of the Kiyohara clan. Yoshi'ie, who returned to Mutsu when he was appointed governor of the province, tries to calm the fighting. On the advice of his uncle Takehira, the youngest son, Kiyohara Iehira, barricades himself in Kanazawa-no-Saku, a fortified military outpost said to be an impregnable fortress. Yoshi'ie's forces struggle to attack the outpost, and three years go by without resolution. Yoshi'ie's younger brother, Minamoto-no-Yoshimitsu, learns of his big brother's struggles and quits his government job to join Yoshi'ie in battle. En route to the battle, he is followed by Toyohara Tokiaki, who admires Yoshimitsu like a big brother. Tokiaki begs Yoshimitsu to allow him to join the fight, but Yoshimitsu admonishes him, telling him to go home. Joined by Yoshimitsu, Yoshi'ie's forces are finally able to seize the once-impregnable fortress. Takehira and Iehira lose their lives and the great Kiyohara clan of Dewa is destroyed. This battle would come to be known as the Later-Three Year War.