Inu-oh 2022

In a mystical narrative woven by a weathered biwa player’s poignant voice, a centuries-old tale of the Genji clan’s pursuit of the Imperial Regalia unfolds. The storied quest culminates in the Battle of Dan-no-ura, where the child emperor meets his watery demise while clutching the revered Grasscutter Sword. Three hundred years later, agents of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu commission young Tomona and his father to retrieve a mysterious box from a Heike shipwreck. Unbeknownst to them, this box contains the fateful Grasscutter Sword, which unleashes a calamitous energy upon its unsheathing, severing Tomona’s father in two and blinding the youth. As the ghost of his father accompanies him on a prolonged journey of self-discovery, Tomona transforms into “Tomoichi,” seeking answers to the enigmatic events that have befallen him.

Concurrently, a Noh dance troupe leader dons an otherworldly mask, precipitating a gruesome series of murders targeting blind biwa players. The troupe leader’s third son, afflicted with a hideous deformity – comprising three stumpy limbs, an elongated right arm covered in scales, and a grotesquely disfigured visage – is forced to conceal his appearance behind a mask and treated as a canine by his father. However, when the deformed son discovers his father attempting to instruct Noh dancing to his able-bodied siblings, he secretly practices alongside them, and his movements miraculously restore his legs.

As Inu-Oh (lit. “Dog King”) – the deformed son’s chosen moniker – wanders through the village, he forms an unexpected bond with Tomoichi, whose innocence allows him to perceive Inu-Oh without prejudice. Sharing his story with Tomoichi, Inu-Oh reveals that the spirits of Heike warriors have begun to converge around him, recounting their tales of valor and sacrifice. Inspired by this vision, the two outcasts unite to form a new performing troupe, with Tomoichi renaming himself “Tomoari.”

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As the curtains drew open on their next performance, Tomoari (played by Tomoari) unveiled a bold new act that electrified the crowd with its fusion of modern hair metal rhythms and soaring melodies. Below the stage, Inu-Oh danced with unbridled passion, weaving a mesmerizing narrative that transported listeners to a bygone era when Heike warriors clung to their ship in defeat, only to have their limbs amputated. As Tomoari’s song reached its climax, Inu-Oh’s arms transformed from stumps to normal length, an astonishing feat that cemented the duo’s status as overnight sensations.

Their subsequent shows proved equally captivating, with Inu-Oh’s skin shedding its scales like a snake molting its old skin. However, this newfound fame attracted unwanted attention from Ashikaga, who sought to monopolize the Heike stories and eliminate any dissenting voices. He dispatched agents to Inu-Oh’s father, offering him fame if he sabotaged his son’s act, sowing seeds of discord among the troupe.

The stakes heightened as their next performance revealed the dark secrets behind Inu-Oh’s origins: his father had made a Faustian bargain with the demon mask for fleeting glory. The mask demanded a terrible price - the lives of biwa players and the innocence of an unborn child. As the story unfolded, it became clear that the murders committed to satiate this curse had unleashed the vengeful spirits of Heike warriors, which inexplicably flocked to Inu-Oh instead of his father. This unexpected turn of events ultimately led to Inu-Oh’s rise to fame and the undoing of his father’s curse.

However, as the mask exacted a ghastly revenge by taking Inu-Oh’s father’s life, Inu-Oh’s face was restored to its former glory. But Ashikaga would not be swayed, and Tomoari was forced to cease playing in public. The clan leader demanded that Inu-Oh perform only the sanctioned version of Heike history or face the brutal consequences - the beheading of his friend Tomoari. Cornered, Inu-Oh reluctantly complied, but Tomoari’s spirit refused to be silenced and continued to speak out against Ashikaga.

The outcome was inevitable: Tomoari’s life was cut short by Ashikaga’s agents. Inu-Oh went on to enjoy years of fame as a Noh dancer, yet his legacy faded into obscurity after his passing. The narrator, revealed to be Tomoari’s restless spirit, had remained on Earth for centuries, biding time until he could reclaim his youthful form and reprise his partnership with Inu-Oh.

In the present day, Tomona (formerly Tomoari) found himself reunited with his long-lost friend, whose spirit had patiently waited 600 years to locate him. As their bond was rekindled, the two spirits merged, restoring Tomoara’s youthful visage and Inu-Oh’s deformed form. United once more, they took to the stage for a final, unforgettable performance that would leave an indelible mark on those who witnessed it.