On my very first trip to Japan, my wife and I were treated to a performance of kabuki, a traditional Japanese art combining music, dance, and drama. Walking into that old wooden theater, I had no idea what to expect. The sounds of the shamisen, drums, and bells, and the movement of the actors on the stage were new and exotic to me. A translator over a crackling headset told the story in broken English, but all I could catch was that shame had somehow fallen on the city. In the end, a man visibly bore the weight of the shame on his shoulders as he slowly and heavily walked the raised platform from the stage to the back of the theater. When the lights came on, everyone in the theater was weeping and wiping their eyes.
The scene haunted me for years, and it was only recently that I learned the deeper meaning of the story. I found a library dedicated exclusively to kabuki within walking distance of my home and described to the librarian as much as I could remember. After she handed me some big old books, I pored over them . . . for hours. Then I found it!
Sugawara and the Secrets of Calligraphy powerfully retells the true story of Sugawara Michizane, a high court noble who lived in ancient Japan at the end of the ninth century. Due to the actions of his daughter Princess Kariya, shame fell on the entire family and his entire domain. The only way to save his daughter and the people was to accept exile. Without even the luxury of looking upon the face of his beloved daughter one last time, Michizane took all the shame upon himself and walked through his city gates for the last time.
Surprising to me, this was not the end of the story! The Village School, the most famous scene in all of kabuki, comes just a little later. After Michizane’s death, an evil lord sent men to the school to kill Michizane’s only son and heir. Realizing the boy could only be saved through the ultimate sacrifice, a faithful retainer gave the life of his only son to take his place instead.
As I read this, I wanted to stand up right there in the middle of the library and shout, “This is it! This is the gospel!” Who would have guessed that dusty old books about historical Japan would be full of such powerful pointers to Christ? I was so emotionally overcome that I walked in a daze and am not even sure how I got back home.
Excerpt from "The Broken Leaf" by Roger W. Lowther